UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K/A
(Amendment No. 1)
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 8, 2022
EXPRESS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-34742 | 26-2828128 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
1 Express Drive Columbus, Ohio |
43230 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(614) 474-4001
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Common Stock, $0.01 par value | EXPR | The New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Explanatory Note
Express, Inc. filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 8, 2022 (the “Original Filing”). The sole purpose of this Amendment No. 1 to the Original Filing is to include Exhibits 4.1, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4.
No other changes have been made to the Original Filing and this is an exhibits-only filing. This Amendment No. 1 to the Original Filing speaks as of the original filing date of the Original Filing, does not reflect events that may have occurred subsequent to the original filing date, and does not modify the disclosures made in the Original Filing.
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
The following exhibits relating to Item 1.01 shall be deemed to be furnished:
Exhibit No. |
Description of Exhibit | |
4.1*+ | Form of Registration Rights Agreement. | |
10.1*+ | Investment Agreement, by and between the Company and WH Borrower, LLC, dated December 8, 2022. | |
10.2*+ | Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, by and among the Company, WH Borrower, LLC and Express LLC, dated December 8, 2022. | |
10.3*+ | Form of Operating Agreement. | |
10.4*+ | Form of Intellectual Property License Agreement. | |
104 | The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K formatted in Inline XBRL. |
* | Exhibits and schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K and will be provided on a supplemental basis to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request. |
+ | Certain portions of the exhibit have been redacted pursuant to Item 601(a)(6) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to furnish supplementally an unredacted copy of the exhibit upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
EXPRESS, INC. | ||||||
Date: December 9, 2022 | By: | /s/ Jason Judd | ||||
Name: | Jason Judd | |||||
Title: | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Exhibit 4.1
CERTAIN IDENTIFIED INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS BOTH NOT MATERIAL AND IS THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL. [*****] INDICATES THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN REDACTED OR OMITTED.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
by and among
EXPRESS, INC.
and
EACH OF THE INVESTORS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO
Dated as of [], 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I |
| |||||
Resale Shelf Registration |
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Section 1.1 |
Shelf Registration Statement | 1 | ||||
Section 1.2 |
Effectiveness Period | 1 | ||||
Section 1.3 |
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement | 1 | ||||
Section 1.4 |
Supplements and Amendments | 2 | ||||
Section 1.5 |
Subsequent Holder Notice | 2 | ||||
Section 1.6 |
Piggyback Rights | 2 | ||||
ARTICLE II |
| |||||
Additional Provisions Regarding Registration Rights |
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Section 2.1 |
Registration Procedures | 3 | ||||
Section 2.2 |
Suspension | 4 | ||||
Section 2.3 |
Expenses of Registration | 4 | ||||
Section 2.4 |
Information by Holders | 5 | ||||
Section 2.5 |
Rule 144 Reporting | 5 | ||||
Section 2.6 |
Holdback Agreement | 6 | ||||
ARTICLE III |
| |||||
Indemnification |
| |||||
Section 3.1 |
Indemnification by Company | 6 | ||||
Section 3.2 |
Indemnification by Holders | 6 | ||||
Section 3.3 |
Notification | 7 | ||||
Section 3.4 |
Contribution | 8 | ||||
Section 3.5 |
Survival | 8 | ||||
ARTICLE IV |
| |||||
Transfer and Termination of Registration Rights |
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Section 4.1 |
Transfer of Registration Rights | 8 | ||||
Section 4.2 |
Termination of Registration Rights | 8 | ||||
ARTICLE V |
| |||||
Miscellaneous |
| |||||
Section 5.1 |
Amendments and Waivers | 8 | ||||
Section 5.2 |
Extension of Time, Waiver, Etc. | 8 | ||||
Section 5.3 |
Assignment | 9 | ||||
Section 5.4 |
Counterparts | 9 | ||||
Section 5.5 |
Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiary | 9 |
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Section 5.6 |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction | 9 | ||||
Section 5.7 |
Specific Enforcement | 9 | ||||
Section 5.8 |
Waiver of Jury Trial | 10 | ||||
Section 5.9 |
Notices | 10 | ||||
Section 5.10 |
Severability | 11 | ||||
Section 5.11 |
Expenses | 11 | ||||
Section 5.12 |
Interpretation | 11 |
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is entered into as of [], 2023, by and among Express, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and each of the investors listed on the signature pages hereto (collectively, together with their respective successors and assigns, the Purchasers and each, a Purchaser). Capitalized terms used but not defined elsewhere herein are defined in Exhibit A. The Purchasers and any other party that may become a party hereto pursuant to Section 4.1 are referred to collectively as the Investors and individually each as an Investor.
WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchasers are parties to that certain Investment Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2022 (as amended from time to time, the Investment Agreement), pursuant to which the Company is selling to the Purchasers, and the Purchasers are purchasing from the Company, an aggregate of 5,434,783 shares of the Companys Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share;
WHEREAS, as a condition to the obligations of the Company and the Purchasers under the Investment Agreement, the Company and the Purchasers are entering into this Agreement for the purpose of granting certain registration and other rights to the Investors.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Resale Shelf Registration
Section 1.1 Shelf Registration Statement.
(a) Subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall file by July 1, 2026, a Shelf Registration Statement containing the Plan of Distribution in substantially the form attached to this Agreement in Exhibit B and covering the resale of all Registrable Securities. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after such filing.
Section 1.2 Effectiveness Period. Once declared effective, the Company shall, subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be continuously effective and usable until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities (the Effectiveness Period).
Section 1.3 Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement. If the Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to, as promptly as is reasonably practicable, cause such Shelf Registration Statement to again become effective under the Securities Act (including obtaining the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend such Shelf Registration Statement in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement, or file an additional shelf registration statement (a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement) for an offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act registering the resale from time to time by the Holders thereof of all securities that are Registrable Securities as of the time of such filing. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof and (b) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective and usable until the end of the Effectiveness Period. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be a Registration Statement on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form.
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Section 1.4 Supplements and Amendments. The Company shall supplement and amend any Shelf Registration Statement if required by the Securities Act or the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement.
Section 1.5 Subsequent Holder Notice. If a Person entitled to the benefits of this Agreement becomes a Holder of Registrable Securities after a Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, the Company shall, as promptly as is reasonably practicable following delivery of written notice to the Company of such Person becoming a Holder and requesting for its name to be included as a selling securityholder in the prospectus related to the Shelf Registration Statement (a Subsequent Holder Notice):
(a) if required and permitted by applicable law, file with the SEC a supplement to the related prospectus or a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement so that such Holder is named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver a prospectus to purchasers of the Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable law; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to file more than one (1) post-effective amendment or a supplement to the related prospectus for such purpose in any thirty-(30)-day period;
(b) if, pursuant to Section 1.5(a), the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement that is not automatically effective, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable; and
(c) notify such Holder as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the effectiveness under the Securities Act of any post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Section 1.5(a).
Section 1.6 Piggyback Rights.
(a) If the Company proposes to: (a) file a Registration Statement (other than a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 1.1 and Section 1.3) or (b) conduct a registered public offering (or to make an underwritten public offering pursuant to a previously filed registration statement), in either case, with respect to an offering of Common Stock, whether or not for sale for its own account (other than, in the case of (a) or (b) above, on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto, filed to effectuate an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan or filed with respect to debt securities only), then the Company shall give prompt written notice of such filing or offering, which notice shall be given, to the extent reasonably practicable, no later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the filing or launch date (the Piggyback Notice) to the Holders of Registrable Securities. The Piggyback Notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to include (or cause to be included) in such Registration Statement or in such underwritten public offering, as the case may be, the number of shares of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request (each, a Piggyback Transaction). Subject to Section 1.6(b), the Company shall include in each Piggyback Transaction all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein (each, a Piggyback Request) within five (5) Business Days after the date of the Piggyback Notice but in any event not later than one (1) Business Day prior to the filing date of a Registration Statement related to the Piggyback Transaction. The Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of such Registration Statement (if other than a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 1.1 or Section 1.3) beyond the earlier of (x) one-hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date thereof and (y) consummation of the distribution by the Holders of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement.
(b) If any of the securities to be registered pursuant to any public offering giving rise to the rights under this Section 1.6 are to be sold in an underwritten public offering, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit Holders of Registrable Securities who have timely submitted a Piggyback Request in connection with such offering to include in such offering all Registrable Securities included in each Holders Piggyback Request on the same terms and subject to the same conditions as any other shares of capital stock, if any, of the Company included in the
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offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the managing underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering advise the Company in writing that in its or their good faith opinion the number of securities exceeds the number of securities which can be sold in such offering in light of market conditions or is such so as to adversely affect the success of such offering, the Company will include in such offering only such number of securities that can be sold without adversely affecting the marketability of the offering, which securities will be so included in the following order of priority: (i) first, the securities proposed to be sold by the Company for its own account if such underwritten offering was initially proposed by the Company; (ii) second, the Registrable Securities of the Holders that have requested to participate in such underwritten offering, allocated pro rata among such Holders on the basis of the Holders then-current ownership of Registrable Securities; (iii) third, any other securities of the Company that have been requested to be included in such offering; provided that Holders may, prior to the time at which the offering price or underwriters discount is determined with the managing underwriter or underwriters, withdraw their request to be included in such underwritten public offering pursuant to this Section 1.6. The Company will have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 1.6, whether or not any holder of Registrable Securities has elected to include securities in such registration.
ARTICLE II
Additional Provisions Regarding Registration Rights
Section 2.1 Registration Procedures. Subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement, in the case of each registration of Registrable Securities effected by the Company pursuant to Article I, the Company will:
(a) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective for the period of the distribution contemplated thereby, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the period specified in paragraph (a) above and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement in accordance with the method of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement for such period;
(c) furnish to any selling Holder copies of the Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein (including each preliminary prospectus) proposed to be filed and provide such selling Holder a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such Registration Statement;
(d) as promptly as is reasonably practicable, notify the selling Holders at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act or of the Companys discovery of the occurrence of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or incomplete in the light of the circumstances then existing, and, subject to Section 2.2, at the request of any selling Holder, prepare as promptly as is reasonably practicable and furnish to such selling Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or incomplete in the light of the circumstances then existing;
(e) use commercially reasonable efforts to register and qualify (or exempt from such registration or qualification) the securities covered by such Registration Statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as shall be reasonably requested in writing by any selling Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (i) qualify to do business in any jurisdictions where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subsection or (ii) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdictions;
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(f) use commercially reasonable efforts to list the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement with any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;
(g) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
(h) cooperate with the selling Holders or agent participating in the disposition of Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA, including the use of commercially reasonable efforts to obtain FINRAs pre-clearance or pre-approval of the Registration Statement and applicable prospectus upon filing with the SEC; and
(i) as promptly as is reasonably practicable, notify the selling Holders (i) when the prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed and, with respect to such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement or related prospectus or to amend or to supplement such prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for such purpose, (iv) if at any time the Company has reason to believe that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement relating to any applicable offering of the Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct or (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.
The Holders agree that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.1(d), 2.1(i)(ii) or 2.1(i)(iii), such Holders shall discontinue disposition of any Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or the related prospectus until receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus, which supplement or amendment shall, subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement, be prepared and furnished as soon as reasonably practicable, or until the Holders are advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed, and have received copies of any amended or supplemented prospectus or any additional or supplemental filings which are incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference in such prospectus (such period during which disposition is discontinued being an Interruption Period) and, if requested by the Company in writing, the Holders shall use commercially reasonable efforts to return to the Company all copies then in their possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such request. As soon as practicable after the Company has determined that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed, the Company will notify the Holders thereof. In the event the Company invokes an Interruption Period hereunder and in the reasonable discretion of the Company the need for the Company to continue the Interruption Period ceases for any reason, the Company shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, provide written notice to the Holders that such Interruption Period is no longer applicable.
Section 2.2 Suspension. (a) The Company shall be entitled, on one (1) occasion in any one-hundred eighty-(180)-day period, for a period of time not to exceed sixty (60) days in the aggregate in any twelve-(12)-month period, to (x) suspend the use of any prospectus and Registration Statement covering any Registrable Securities and (y) require the Holders of Registrable Securities to suspend any offerings or sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, if the Company delivers to the Holders affected thereby a certificate signed by an executive officer certifying that such registration and offering would (i) require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or (ii) materially interfere with any bona fide material financing, acquisition, disposition or similar event involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries then under consideration. Such certificate shall contain a statement of the reasons for such suspension and the anticipated length of such suspension. The Holders shall keep the information contained in such certificate confidential.
Section 2.3 Expenses of Registration. Except as expressly provided herein, all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Company or any Holder in connection with the performance of or compliance with this Agreement and/or in connection with the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement, whether or not the same shall become effective, shall be paid by the Company, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees, and any other fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with the SEC or FINRA, (ii) all fees and
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expenses in connection with compliance with any securities or blue sky laws, (iii) all printing, duplicating, word processing, messenger, telephone, and delivery expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company or other depositary and of printing prospectuses and issuer free writing prospectuses (as such term is defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus)), (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of all independent certified public accountants of the Company, (v) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange on which similar securities of the Company are then listed, (vi) all applicable rating agency fees with respect to the Registrable Securities, (vii) all fees and disbursements of legal counsel for the Company and (viii) all of the Companys internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties).
Section 2.4 Information by Holders. The Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities included in any registration shall, and the Purchasers shall cause such Holder or Holders to, furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder or Holders and their Affiliates, the Registrable Securities held by them and the distribution proposed by such Holder or Holders and their Affiliates as the Company or its representatives may reasonably request that is customarily required in a resale shelf registration statement and as shall be required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance referred to in this Agreement. It is understood and agreed that the obligations of the Company under Article I are conditioned on the timely provision of the foregoing information by such Holder or Holders and, without limitation of the foregoing, will be conditioned on compliance by such Holder or Holders with the following:
(a) such Holder or Holders will, and will cause their respective Affiliates to, use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Company in connection with the preparation of the applicable Registration Statement and prospectus and, for so long as the Company is obligated to keep such Registration Statement effective, such Holder or Holders will and will cause their respective Affiliates to, provide to the Company, in writing and in a timely manner, for use in such Registration Statement (and expressly identified in writing as such), all information regarding themselves and their respective Affiliates and such other information as is required by applicable law to enable the Company to prepare or amend such Registration Statement, any related prospectus and any other documents related to such offering covering the applicable Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders and to maintain the currency and effectiveness thereof;
(b) during such time as such Holder or Holders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a distribution of the Registrable Securities, such Holder or Holders will, and they will cause their Affiliates to, comply with all laws applicable to such distribution, including Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act, and, to the extent required by such laws, will, and will cause their Affiliates to, among other things (i) not engage in any stabilization activity in connection with the securities of the Company in contravention of such laws; (ii) distribute the Registrable Securities acquired by them solely in the manner described in the applicable Registration Statement and (iii) if required by applicable law, cause to be furnished to each agent or broker-dealer to or through whom such Registrable Securities may be offered, or to the offeree if an offer is made directly by such Holder or Holders or their respective Affiliates, such copies of the applicable prospectus (as amended and supplemented to such date) and documents incorporated by reference therein as may be required by such agent, broker-dealer or offeree; and
(c) on receipt of any notice from the Company of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.1(d) or clauses (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.1(i), or that otherwise requires the suspension by such Holder or Holders and their respective Affiliates of the offering, sale or distribution of any of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders, such Holders shall, and they shall cause their respective Affiliates to, cease offering, selling or distributing the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders until the offering, sale and distribution of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders may recommence in accordance with the terms hereof and applicable law.
Section 2.5 Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available the benefits of Rule 144 to the Holders, the Company agrees that, for so long as a Holder owns Registrable Securities, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144, at all times after the date of this Agreement; and
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(b) so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to the Holder upon written request a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.
Section 2.6 Holdback Agreement. If during the Effectiveness Period, the Company shall file a Registration Statement (other than in connection with the registration of securities issuable pursuant to an employee stock option, stock purchase or similar plan or pursuant to a merger, exchange offer or a transaction of the type specified in Rule 145(a) under the Securities Act) with respect to an underwritten public offering of Common Stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, such securities or otherwise informs the Holders that it intends to conduct such an offering utilizing an effective Registration Statement or pursuant to an underwritten Rule 144A and/or Regulation S offering and provides each Holder the opportunity to participate in such offering in accordance with and to the extent required by Section 1.6, each Holder shall, if requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, enter into a customary lock-up agreement relating to the sale, offering or distribution of Registrable Securities, in the form reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, covering the period commencing on the date of the prospectus pursuant to which such offering may be made and continuing until up to ninety (90) days from the date of such prospectus; provided that each executive officer and director of the Company also agrees to substantially similar restrictions.
ARTICLE III
Indemnification
Section 3.1 Indemnification by Company. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will, with respect to any Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement or prospectus, or as to which registration, qualification or compliance under applicable blue sky laws has been effected pursuant to this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, each Holders current and former officers, directors, partners, members, managers, shareholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees, and each Person controlling such Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and such Holders current and former officers, directors, partners, members, managers, shareholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees, and each underwriter thereof, if any, and each Person who controls any such underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (collectively, the Company Indemnified Parties), from and against any and all expenses, claims, losses, damages, costs (including costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys fees and any legal or other fees or expenses actually incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding), judgments, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement and other liabilities, joint or several, (or actions in respect thereof) (collectively, Losses) to the extent arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus, offering circular, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as such term is defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) or other document, in each case related to such Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rules or regulations thereunder applicable to the Company and (without limiting the preceding portions of this Section 3.1), the Company will reimburse each of the Company Indemnified Parties for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal expenses and any other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred in connection with investigating, defending or, subject to the last sentence of this Section 3.1, settling any such Losses or action, as such expenses are incurred; provided that the Companys indemnification obligations shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), nor shall the Company be liable to a Holder in any such case for any such Losses or action to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon a violation or alleged violation of any state or federal law (including any claim arising out of or based on any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in the Registration Statement or prospectus) which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information regarding such Holder furnished to the Company by such Holder or its authorized representatives expressly for use in connection with such registration by or on behalf of any Holder.
Section 3.2 Indemnification by Holders. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by such Holder are included in the securities as to which registration or qualification or compliance under applicable blue sky laws is being effected, indemnify, severally and not jointly with any other Holders of Registrable Securities, the Company, each of its representatives, each Person who controls the Company
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or such underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (collectively, the Holder Indemnified Parties), against all Losses (or actions in respect thereof) to the extent arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus, offering circular, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document prepared by or on behalf of the Company and authorized to be distributed in connection with any registration hereunder, in each case related to such Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse each of the Holder Indemnified Parties for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal expenses and any other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred in connection with investigating, defending or, subject to the last sentence of this Section 3.2, settling any such Losses or action, as such expenses are incurred, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such Registration Statement, prospectus, offering circular, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information regarding such Holder furnished to the Company by such Holder or its authorized representatives and stated to be specifically for use therein; provided, however, that in no event shall any indemnity under this Section 3.2 payable by the Purchasers and any Holder exceed an amount equal to the net proceeds received by such Holder in respect of the Registrable Securities sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The indemnity agreement contained in this Section 3.2 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the applicable Holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
Section 3.3 Notification. If any Person shall be entitled to indemnification under this Article III (each, an Indemnified Party), such Indemnified Party shall give prompt notice to the party required to provide indemnification (each, an Indemnifying Party) of any claim or of the commencement of any proceeding as to which indemnity is sought. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right, exercisable by giving written notice to the Indemnified Party as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the receipt of written notice from such Indemnified Party of such claim or proceeding, to assume, at the Indemnifying Partys expense, the defense of any such claim or litigation, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and, after notice from the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party of its election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnifying Party will not (so long as it shall continue to have the right to defend, contest, litigate and settle the matter in question in accordance with this paragraph) be liable to such Indemnified Party hereunder for any legal expenses and other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof; provided, however, that an Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such claim or litigation, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless the Indemnifying Party shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and the Indemnified Party is or would reasonably be expected to be materially prejudiced by such delay. The failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall relieve an Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article III only to the extent that the failure to give such notice is materially prejudicial or harmful to such Indemnifying Partys ability to defend such action. No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the prior written consent of each Indemnified Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. The indemnity agreements contained in this Article III shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any claim, loss, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The indemnification set forth in this Article III shall be in addition to any other indemnification rights or agreements that an Indemnified Party may have. An Indemnifying Party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim will not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such Indemnifying Party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any Indemnified Party a conflict of interest may exist between such Indemnified Party and any other Indemnified Parties with respect to such claim.
7
Section 3.4 Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Article III is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party, other than pursuant to its terms, with respect to any Losses or action referred to therein, then, subject to the limitations contained in this Article III, the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made (or omitted) by, or relates to information supplied by such Indemnifying Party or such Indemnified Party, and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any such action, statement or omission. The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 3.4 was determined solely upon pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 3.4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount any Holder will be obligated to contribute pursuant to this Section 3.4 will be limited to an amount equal to the net proceeds received by such Holder in respect of the Registrable Securities sold pursuant to the Registration Statement which gives rise to such obligation to contribute. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
Section 3.5 Survival. The indemnification provided under this Article III shall survive the sale or other transfer of the Registrable Securities.
ARTICLE IV
Transfer and Termination of Registration Rights
Section 4.1 Transfer of Registration Rights. Any rights granted to a Holder under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned to any Investor in connection with a Transfer (as defined in the Investment Agreement) of Common Stock, purchased pursuant to the Investment Agreement, to such Person in a Transfer permitted by and made pursuant to Section 5.06(b)(i) of the Investment Agreement, except that any rights granted to WHP Borrower, LLC under this Agreement in respect of shares of Common Stock held directly by it as of the date of this Agreement (and acquired otherwise than in connection with the Investment Agreement) may be transferred or assigned to any Investor at any time to any Person to whom a Transfer could be made under Section 5.06(b)(i) of the Investment Agreement; provided, however, that in the case of any transfer or assignment made in accordance with this Section 4.1, (i) prior written notice of such transfer and assignment of rights is given to the Company and (ii) such Investor agrees in writing to be bound by, and subject to, this Agreement as a Holder pursuant to a written instrument in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company.
Section 4.2 Termination of Registration Rights. The rights of any particular Holder to cause the Company to register securities under Article I shall terminate with respect to such Holder upon the date upon which such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities.
ARTICLE V
Miscellaneous
Section 5.1 Amendments and Waivers. Subject to compliance with applicable law, this Agreement may be amended or supplemented in any and all respects by written agreement of the Company and holders of a Majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding.
Section 5.2 Extension of Time, Waiver, Etc.. The parties hereto may, subject to applicable law, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or acts of the other party or (b) waive compliance by the other party with any of the agreements contained herein applicable to such party or, except as otherwise provided herein, waive any of such partys conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by the parties hereto in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party.
8
Section 5.3 Assignment. Except as provided in Section 4.1, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise, by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other party hereto.
Section 5.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by electronic mail or .pdf), each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to the other parties hereto.
Section 5.5 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiary. This Agreement, together with the Investment Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties and their Affiliates, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. No provision of this Agreement shall confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their permitted assigns any rights or remedies hereunder.
Section 5.6 Governing Law; Jurisdiction.
(a) This Agreement and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract, tort or statute) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement or as an inducement to enter into this Agreement), shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed entirely within that State, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under any applicable conflict of laws principles.
(b) All legal or administrative proceedings, suits, investigations, arbitrations or actions (Actions) arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (or, if the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over any Action, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware) and the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts in any such Action and irrevocably waive the defense of an inconvenient forum or lack of jurisdiction to the maintenance of any such Action. The consents to jurisdiction and venue set forth in this Section 5.6 shall not constitute general consents to service of process in the State of Delaware and shall have no effect for any purpose except as provided in this paragraph and shall not be deemed to confer rights on any Person other than the parties hereto. Each party hereto agrees that service of process upon such party in any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be effective if notice is given by overnight courier at the address set forth in Section 5.9 of this Agreement. The parties hereto agree that a final judgment in any such Action shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable law; provided, however, that nothing in the foregoing shall restrict any partys rights to seek any post-judgment relief regarding, or any appeal from, a final trial court judgment.
Section 5.7 Specific Enforcement. The parties acknowledge and agree that (a) the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, specific performance or other equitable relief to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in the courts described in Section 5.6 without proof of damages or otherwise, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled under this Agreement and (b) the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of this Agreement and without that right, neither the Company nor the Purchasers would have entered into this Agreement. The parties hereto agree not to assert that a remedy of specific enforcement is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to law or inequitable for any reason, and agree not to assert that a remedy of monetary damages would provide an adequate remedy or that the parties otherwise have an adequate remedy at law. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any party seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in accordance with this
9
Section 5.7 shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction.
Section 5.8 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVER, (C) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.8.
Section 5.9 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, emailed (which is confirmed, including automated return receipt) or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties at the following addresses:
(a) If to the Company, to it at:
Express, Inc.
1 Express Drive
Columbus, OH 43230
Attention: [*****]
Email: [*****]
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
and
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
300 North LaSalle
Chicago, IL 60654
Attention: Eric Schiele, P.C.
Rachael Coffey, P.C.
Robert M. Hayward, P.C.
Alexander M. Schwartz
Email: eric.schiele@kirkland.com
rachael.coffey@kirkland.com
robert.hayward@kirkland.com
alexander.schwartz@kirkland.com
(b) If to the Purchasers, to:
10
WH Borrower, LLC
c/o WHP Global
530 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor
New York, New York 10036
E-mail: [*****]
Attention: [*****]
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Goodwin Procter LLP
100 Northern Avenue
Boston, MA 02210
United States
Attention: Joshua Zachariah
R. Kirkie Maswoswe
Sean M. Donahue
Email: JZachariah@goodwinlaw.com
KMaswoswe@goodwinlaw.com
SDonahue@goodwinlaw.com
or such other address or email address as such party may hereafter specify by like notice to the other parties hereto.
If to any other Holder of Registrable Securities, to both the e-mail and physical address of such other Holder as shown in the stock record book of the Company. Each Holder shall provide the Company with an updated e-mail address or physical address if such address changes by notice to the Company. The e-mail address and physical address shown on the stock record books of the Company shall be presumed to be current for purposes of giving any notice under this Agreement.
All such notices, requests and other communications shall be deemed received on the date of actual receipt by the recipient thereof if received prior to 5:00 p.m. local time in the place of receipt and such day is a Business Day in the place of receipt. Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall be deemed not to have been received until the next succeeding Business Day in the place of receipt.
Section 5.10 Severability. If any term, condition or other provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect. Upon such determination that any term, condition or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
Section 5.11 Expenses. Except as provided in Section 2.3, all costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses.
Section 5.12 Interpretation. The rules of interpretation set forth in Section 8.12 of the Investment Agreement shall apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.
[Signature pages follow]
11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY: | ||
EXPRESS, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: [] | ||
Title: [] |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
WHP BORROWER, LLC | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT A
DEFINED TERMS
1. The following capitalized terms have the meanings indicated:
Adverse Disclosure means public disclosure of material non-public information that, in the good faith judgment of the Company: (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement filed with the SEC by the Company so that such Registration Statement would not be materially misleading; (ii) would not be required to be made at such time but for the filing, effectiveness or continued use of such Registration Statement; and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not disclosing publicly.
Affiliates shall have the meaning given to such term in the Investment Agreement.
Business Day shall have the meaning given to such term in the Investment Agreement.
Common Stock means all shares currently or hereafter existing of the Companys common stock, par value $0.01 per share.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
FINRA means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
Holder means any Investor holding Registrable Securities.
Majority means, with respect to Registrable Securities, a mathematical majority of the shares of Common Stock constituting Registrable Securities outstanding as of such date.
Person means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity, including a governmental authority.
register, registered and registration refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the automatic effectiveness of such Registration Statement, as applicable.
Registrable Securities means, as of any date of determination, (a) any shares of Common Stock hereafter acquired by any Investor issued pursuant to the Investment Agreement (whether or not subsequently transferred to any Investor), and any other securities issued or issuable with respect to any such shares of Common Stock by way of share split, share dividend, distribution, recapitalization, merger, exchange, replacement, reorganization, consolidation or similar event or otherwise, and (b) 5,434,783 shares of Common Stock held directly by WHP Borrower, LLC as of the date of this Agreement. As to any particular Registrable Securities, once issued, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) such securities are sold or otherwise transferred pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act, (ii) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding, (iii) such securities have been transferred in a transaction in which the Holders rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of the securities or (iv) such securities are resold in a brokers transaction under Rule 144 of the Securities Act.
Registration Statement means any Registration Statement of the Company under the Securities Act which permits the public offering of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including any prospectus, prospectus supplement, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.
Rule 144 means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act and any successor provision.
A-1
SEC means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Shelf Registration Statement means a Registration Statement filed with the SEC on either (a) Form S-3 (or any successor form or appropriate form under the Securities Act) or (b) if the Company is not permitted to file a Registration Statement on Form S-3, a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (or any successor form or other appropriate form under the Securities Act), in each case for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act covering the Registrable Securities, as applicable.
2. The following terms are defined in the Sections of the Agreement indicated:
INDEX OF TERMS
Term |
Section | |
Actions | Section 5.6(b) | |
Agreement | Preamble | |
Common Stock | Recitals | |
Company | Preamble | |
Company Indemnified Parties | Section 3.1 | |
Effectiveness Period | Section 1.2 | |
Holder Indemnified Parties | Section 3.2 | |
Indemnified Party | Section 3.3 | |
Indemnifying Party | Section 3.3 | |
Interruption Period | Section 2.1(i) | |
Investment Agreement | Recitals | |
Investor | Preamble | |
Investors | Preamble | |
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus | Section 2.3 | |
Losses | Section 3.1 | |
Piggyback Notice | Section 1.6(a) | |
Piggyback Transaction | Section 1.6(a) | |
Piggyback Request | Section 1.6(a) | |
Purchasers | Preamble | |
Registration Expenses | Section 2.3 | |
Subsequent Holder Notice | Section 1.5 | |
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement | Section 1.3 |
A-2
EXHIBIT B
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
[Intentionally Omitted]
A-3
Exhibit 10.1
CERTAIN IDENTIFIED INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS BOTH NOT MATERIAL AND IS THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL. [*****] INDICATES THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN REDACTED OR OMITTED.
INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
by and between
EXPRESS, INC.
and
WH BORROWER, LLC
Dated as of December 8, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
Article I |
| |||||
Definitions |
| |||||
Section 1.01 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
Article II |
| |||||
Purchase and Sale |
| |||||
Section 2.01 |
Purchase and Sale | 9 | ||||
Section 2.02 |
Closing | 9 | ||||
Section 2.03 |
Adjustments | 10 | ||||
Article III |
| |||||
Representations and Warranties of the Company |
| |||||
Section 3.01 |
Organization; Standing | 10 | ||||
Section 3.02 |
Capitalization | 11 | ||||
Section 3.03 |
Authority; Noncontravention | 12 | ||||
Section 3.04 |
Governmental Approvals | 13 | ||||
Section 3.05 |
Company SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities | 13 | ||||
Section 3.06 |
Absence of Certain Changes | 14 | ||||
Section 3.07 |
Legal Proceedings | 14 | ||||
Section 3.08 |
Compliance with Laws; Permits | 14 | ||||
Section 3.09 |
Tax Matters | 14 | ||||
Section 3.10 |
No Rights Agreement; Anti-Takeover Provisions | 15 | ||||
Section 3.11 |
Brokers and Other Advisors | 15 | ||||
Section 3.12 |
Sale of Securities | 15 | ||||
Section 3.13 |
Listing and Maintenance Requirements | 15 | ||||
Section 3.14 |
No Other Representations or Warranties | 15 | ||||
Article IV |
| |||||
Representations and Warranties of the Investor |
| |||||
Section 4.01 |
Organization; Standing | 16 | ||||
Section 4.02 |
Authority; Noncontravention | 16 | ||||
Section 4.03 |
Governmental Approvals | 17 | ||||
Section 4.04 |
Sufficiency of Funds | 17 | ||||
Section 4.05 |
Ownership of Company Stock | 17 | ||||
Section 4.06 |
Brokers and Other Advisors | 17 | ||||
Section 4.07 |
Non-Reliance on Company Estimates, Projections, Forecasts, Forward-Looking Statements and Business Plans | 17 | ||||
Section 4.08 |
No Other Investor Representations or Warranties | 18 | ||||
Section 4.09 |
Purchase for Investment | 18 | ||||
Section 4.10 |
No Other Company Representations or Warranties | 18 |
i
Article V |
| |||||
Additional Agreements |
| |||||
Section 5.01 |
Negative Covenants |
19 | ||||
Section 5.02 |
Reasonable Best Efforts; Filings |
20 | ||||
Section 5.03 |
Public Disclosure |
21 | ||||
Section 5.04 |
Confidentiality |
21 | ||||
Section 5.05 |
Standstill |
22 | ||||
Section 5.06 |
Transfer Restrictions |
24 | ||||
Section 5.07 |
Legend |
25 | ||||
Section 5.08 |
Election of Directors |
26 | ||||
Section 5.09 |
Voting |
28 | ||||
Section 5.10 |
Tax Matters |
29 | ||||
Section 5.11 |
Information Rights |
29 | ||||
Section 5.12 |
Investor Consent Rights |
29 | ||||
Section 5.13 |
Use of Proceeds |
30 | ||||
Article VI |
| |||||
Conditions to Closing |
| |||||
Section 6.01 |
Conditions to the Obligations of the Company and the Investor |
30 | ||||
Section 6.02 |
Conditions to the Obligations of the Company |
30 | ||||
Section 6.03 |
Conditions to the Obligations of the Investor |
31 | ||||
Article VII |
| |||||
Termination; Survival |
| |||||
Section 7.01 |
Termination |
32 | ||||
Section 7.02 |
Effect of Termination |
33 | ||||
Section 7.03 |
Survival |
33 | ||||
Article VIII |
| |||||
Miscellaneous |
| |||||
Section 8.01 |
Amendments; Waivers |
33 | ||||
Section 8.02 |
Extension of Time, Waiver, Etc |
33 | ||||
Section 8.03 |
Assignment |
33 | ||||
Section 8.04 |
Counterparts |
34 | ||||
Section 8.05 |
Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries |
34 | ||||
Section 8.06 |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction |
34 | ||||
Section 8.07 |
Specific Enforcement |
34 | ||||
Section 8.08 |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
35 | ||||
Section 8.09 |
Notices |
35 | ||||
Section 8.10 |
Severability |
36 | ||||
Section 8.11 |
Expenses |
37 | ||||
Section 8.12 |
Interpretation |
37 | ||||
Section 8.13 |
Acknowledgment of Securities Laws |
38 |
ii
INVESTMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of December 8, 2022 (this Agreement), by and between Express, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and WH Borrower, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Investor).
WHEREAS, the Company desires to issue, sell and deliver to the Investor (or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Investor), and the Investor desires to purchase and acquire from the Company (directly or through a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Investor), pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, an aggregate of 5,434,783 shares of the Companys Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock); and
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company and the Investor are entering into that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the Purchase Agreement), pursuant to which Investor has agreed to acquire (directly or indirectly through a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Investor) 60% of the equity interests of IPCo.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions. (a) As used in this Agreement (including the recitals hereto), the following terms shall have the following meanings:
50% Beneficial Ownership Requirement means that the Investor Parties continue to beneficially own at all times at least 50% of the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Investor Parties as of the Closing.
Affiliate means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person; provided, however, (i) that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of the Investor or any of its Affiliates and (ii) portfolio companies (as such term is customarily used in the private equity industry) in which any Person or any of its Affiliates has an investment shall not be deemed an Affiliate of such Person so long as such portfolio company (x) has not been directed by the Investor or any of its Affiliates or any Investor Director in carrying out any act prohibited by this Agreement, (y) is not a member of a group (as such term is defined in Sections 13(d)(3) and 13(g)(3) of the Exchange Act) with either the Investor or any of its Affiliates with respect to any securities of the Company, and (z) has not received from the Investor or any Affiliate of the Investor or any Investor Director, directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information. For this purpose, control (including, with its correlative meanings, controlled by and under common control with) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise and, in any event, without limitation of the previous sentence, any Person owning more than 50% or more of the voting securities of another Person shall be deemed to control that Person.
Any Person shall be deemed to beneficially own, to have beneficial ownership of, or to be beneficially owning any securities (which securities shall also be deemed beneficially owned by such Person) that such Person is deemed to beneficially own within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act; provided that any Person shall be deemed to beneficially own any securities that such Person has the right to acquire, whether or not such right is exercisable immediately.
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Business Day means any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which the SEC or banks in the City of New York are authorized or required by Law to be closed.
Company Charter Documents means the Companys certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each as amended to the date of this Agreement.
Company Credit Facility means that certain (a) Second Amended and Restated Asset-Based Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of May 20, 2015 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the ABL Credit Agreement), by and among Express Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ( Parent), the Company, Express Topco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Intermediate Holdings), Express, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Borrower), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) party thereto (the Subsidiary Guarantors, together with Parent, Holdings, Intermediate Holdings and the Borrower, the Companies), the Lenders (as defined therein) party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (Wells Fargo) as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (each as defined therein) and (b) Asset-Based Term Loan Agreement, dated as of January 13, 2021 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the FILO Credit Agreement), by and among the Companies, the Lenders (as defined therein) party thereto, and Wells Fargo, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (each as defined therein).
Company Plan means each plan, program, policy, agreement or other arrangement covering current or former employees, directors or consultants, that is (i) an employee welfare plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA, (ii) an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA, other than any plan which is a multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), (iii) a stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation right or other stock-based agreement, program or plan, (iv) an individual employment, consulting, severance, retention or other similar agreement or (v) a bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, profit-sharing, retirement, post-retirement, vacation, severance or termination pay, benefit or fringe-benefit plan, program, policy, agreement or other arrangement, in each case that is sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries contributes or is obligated to contribute to or has or may have any liability, other than any plan, program, policy, agreement or arrangement mandated by applicable Law.
Company PSU means a restricted stock unit of the Company subject to both time-based and performance-based vesting conditions.
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Company RSU means a restricted stock unit of the Company subject solely to time-based vesting conditions.
Company Stock Option means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock.
Company Stock Plans means the Second Amended and Restated Company 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan and the Second Amended and Restated Company 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan.
Confidentiality Agreement means the Confidentiality Agreement between Company and WHP Investments, LLC (WHP), dated as of August 24, 2022.
COVID-19 means SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and any evolutions thereof or related or associate epidemics, pandemic or disease outbreaks.
COVID-19 Measures means any quarantine, shelter in place, stay at home, workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester or any other Law, mandate, directive, guidelines or recommendations by any Governmental Authority in connection with or in response to COVID-19.
DGCL means the Delaware General Corporation Law.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Fall-Away of Investor Board Rights means the earliest to occur of (i) the first day on which the 50% Beneficial Ownership Requirement is not satisfied or (ii) solely for purposes of and as used in Section 5.08 or in any resignation letter in the form attached as Annex III, the occurrence of a material breach of Section 5.05, Section 5.06 or Section 5.09 by the Investor Parties of their obligations under this Agreement which remains uncured for a period of five days following receipt by the Investor of written notice of such breach from the Company, provided that no cure period shall apply if such breach is of a nature which cannot be cured.
Financial Information means the financial information made available to Investor.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, consistently applied.
Governmental Authority means any government, court, regulatory or administrative agency, arbitrator (public or private), commission or authority or other legislative, executive or judicial governmental entity (in each case including any self-regulatory organization), whether federal, state or local, domestic, foreign or multinational.
HSR Act means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
3
Investor Designee means an individual designated in writing by the Investor and reasonably acceptable to the Board (and the Compensation and Governance Committee of the Board) to be nominated by the Company for election to the Board pursuant to Section 5.08(c) or elected to the Board pursuant to Section 5.08(a) or 5.08(d), as applicable, and following reasonable satisfaction by such individual of customary background checks.
Investor Director means a member of the Board who was elected to the Board pursuant to Section 5.08(a), 5.08(c) or 5.08(d) as an Investor Designee.
Investor Material Adverse Effect means any effect, change, event or occurrence that would prevent or materially delay, materially interfere with, materially hinder or materially impair (i) the consummation by the Investor of any of the Stock Purchase Transactions on a timely basis or (ii) the compliance by the Investor with its obligations under this Agreement.
Investor Parties means the Investor and each Affiliate of the Investor to whom shares of Common Stock are transferred pursuant to Section 5.06(b)(i).
IPCo Partnership Agreement means that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement to be entered into by IPCo, the Company and the Investor, the form of which is set forth as Annex III hereto.
License Agreement means that certain License Agreement to be entered into by the Company and the Investor, the form of which is set forth as Annex II hereto.
Material Adverse Effect means any change, event, effect, occurrence, development or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, has had a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that, none of the following, and no changes, events, effects or circumstances arising out of, relating to or resulting from the following (in each case, by itself or when aggregated) either alone or in combination, will be deemed to be or constitute a Material Adverse Effect or will be taken into account when determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would be reasonably expected to occur (subject to the limitations set forth below):
(i) changes in general economic conditions, or changes in conditions in the global, international or regional economy generally;
(ii) changes in conditions in the financial markets, credit markets or capital markets, including (A) changes in interest rates or credit ratings; (B) changes in monetary policy or exchange rates for the currencies of any country; (C) inflation; or (D) any suspension of trading in securities (whether equity, debt, derivative or hybrid securities) generally on any securities exchange or over-the-counter market;
(iii) changes in conditions in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business (including supply chain delays and increases in raw material prices);
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(iv) changes in regulatory, legislative or political conditions (including civil unrest, protests and public demonstrations (in each case, whether or not violent), any government responses thereto (e.g., curfews) and any escalation or worsening thereof);
(v) any geopolitical conditions, outbreak of hostilities, acts of war (whether or not declared), sabotage, cyber-attack (including by means of cyber-intrusion or other cyber-security breach), terrorism or military actions (including any escalation or general worsening of, or any Law or sanction, mandate, directive, pronouncement, guideline or recommendation issued by a Governmental Authority in response to, any such hostilities, acts of war, sabotage, cyberterrorism, terrorism or military actions);
(vi) earthquakes, volcanic activity, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, wild fires or other natural disasters, weather conditions and other natural or man-made force majeure events;
(vii) any (A) epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 pandemic), human health crises or other force majeure events, in each case, including any worsening thereof, or (B) Law or mandate, directive, pronouncement, guideline or recommendation issued by a Governmental Authority, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization or industry group providing for business closures, sheltering-in-place, curfews or other restrictions that relate to, or arise out of, an epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 pandemic) or any change in such Law or directive, pronouncement or guideline or interpretation thereof or any material worsening of such conditions (including any COVID-19 Measures);
(viii) the negotiation, execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the announcement of this Agreement or the pendency of the Transactions, including the impact thereof on the relationships, contractual or otherwise, of the Company and its Subsidiaries with customers, suppliers, lenders, lessors, business partners, employees, regulators, Governmental Authorities, or any other Person;
(ix) the compliance by any Party with the terms of this Agreement, including any action taken or refrained from being taken pursuant to or in accordance with this Agreement;
(x) any action taken or refrained from being taken, in each case to which the Investor has expressly approved, consented to or requested in writing following the date of this Agreement;
(xi) changes or proposed changes in GAAP or other accounting standards or in any applicable Laws (or the enforcement, implementation or interpretation of any of the foregoing);
5
(xii) changes in the price or trading volume of the Common Stock, in and of itself (it being understood that the underlying cause of such change may be taken into consideration when determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, unless otherwise contemplated by the exceptions to this definition);
(xiii) any failure, in and of itself, by the Company and its Subsidiaries to meet (A) any internal or public estimates or expectations of the Companys revenue, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations for any period; or (B) any budgets, plans, projections or forecasts of its revenues, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations (it being understood that the underlying cause of any such failure described in the foregoing clauses (A) or (B) may be taken into consideration when determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, unless otherwise contemplated by the exceptions to this definition);
(xiv) the availability or cost of equity, debt or other financing to the Investor;
(xv) any government shutdown or slowdown;
(xvi) any Action commenced or threatened against a party hereto or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (or their respective directors, members, managers, partners or officers) or otherwise relating to, involving or affecting such party or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, in each case in connection with, arising from or otherwise relating to the Transactions, other than any Action that is (A) solely among all or some of the parties hereto and (B) related to this Agreement;
(xvii) the identity of, or any facts or circumstances relating to, the Investor or its Affiliates, the respective financing sources of or investors in the foregoing; and
(xviii) any breach by the Investor of this Agreement;
except, in each case of clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (xi) and (xv) (excluding any change, event, effect or circumstance arising from or related to COVID-19 or COVID-19 Measures), to the extent (and only to the extent) that such change, event, effect or circumstance has had a disproportionate adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries relative to other similarly situated companies operating in the same industries (and conducting operations in the same geographic locations) in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, in which case only the incremental disproportionate adverse impact may be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred.
NYSE means the New York Stock Exchange.
Person means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity, including a Governmental Authority.
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Prohibited Transferee means, as of any date, (a) the Persons set forth on Section 1.02 of the Company Disclosure Letter and the Persons that are actually known by the Investor to be Affiliates thereof, (b) any Person identified on the SharkWatch 50 list most recently available as of such date (or, if SharkWatch 50 is no longer available, then the prevailing comparable list as reasonably determined by the Company) and the Persons that are actually known by the Investor to be Affiliates thereof and (c) any Person who has, directly or indirectly, prior to such date whether individually or as a member of a group, and in each case with respect to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their equity securities, (i) publicly made, engaged in or been a participant (as defined in Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in any solicitation of proxies (as such terms are defined in Regulation 14A as promulgated by the SEC) to vote any equity securities of the Company not approved by the Board, (ii) publicly called, or publicly sought to call, a meeting of the stockholders of the Company or publicly initiated any stockholder proposal for action by stockholders of the Company, in each case, not approved by the Board, (iii) commenced a tender offer (as such term is used in Regulation 14D under the Exchange Act) to acquire the equity securities of the Company that was not approved (at the time of commencement) by the Board in a Schedule 14D-9 filed under Regulation 14D under the Exchange Act or (iv) otherwise acted, either publicly or to the knowledge of the Investor, alone or in concert with others, to seek to control or substantially influence the Board or stockholders of the Company.
Registration Rights Agreement means that certain Registration Rights Agreement to be entered into by the Company and the Investor, the form of which is set forth as Annex I hereto.
Representatives means, with respect to any Person, its officers, directors, employees, consultants, agents, financial advisors, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, other advisors, Affiliates and other representatives.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Significant Subsidiaries means Express, LLC and Express Fashion Operations, LLC.
Stock Purchase Transactions means the Purchase and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Stock Purchase Transaction Documents.
Stock Purchase Transaction Documents means this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and all other documents, certificates or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement.
Subsidiary, when used with respect to any Person, means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust or other entity of which (x) securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the ordinary voting power (or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests) or (y) sufficient voting rights to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body are, as of such date, owned by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
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Tax means any and all United States federal, state, local or non-United States taxes, fees, levies, duties, tariffs, imposts, and other similar charges (together with any and all interest, penalties and additions to tax) imposed by any Governmental Authority, including taxes or other charges on or with respect to income, franchises, windfall or other profits, gross receipts, property, sales, use, capital stock, payroll, employment, social security, workers compensation, unemployment compensation or net worth; taxes or other charges in the nature of excise, withholding, ad valorem, stamp, transfer, value added or gains taxes; license, registration and documentation fees.
Tax Return means returns, reports, claims for refund, declarations of estimated Taxes and information statements, including any schedule or attachment thereto or any amendment thereof, with respect to Taxes filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Authority, including consolidated, combined and unitary tax returns.
Transaction Consideration means the aggregate of the proceeds paid to the Company from (i) the issuance and sale of the Acquired Shares and (ii) the Purchase Price (as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreement).
Transaction Documents means this Agreement, the Purchase Agreement, the IPCo Partnership Agreement, the License Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and all other documents, certificates or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Purchase Agreement, the IPCo Partnership Agreement, the License Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement.
Transactions means the Purchase and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
Transfer (or Transferred) by any Person means, directly or indirectly, to sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or transfer (by the operation of law or otherwise), either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement, agreement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or other disposition or transfer (by the operation of law or otherwise), of any interest; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, a Transfer shall not include the redemption or other acquisition of Common Stock by the Company.
(b) In addition to the terms defined in Section 1.01(a), the following terms have the meanings assigned thereto in the Sections set forth below:
Term |
Section | |
Acquired Shares |
2.01 | |
Action |
3.07 | |
Agreement |
Preamble | |
Balance Sheet Date |
3.05(b) | |
Bankruptcy and Equity Exception |
3.03(a) | |
Capitalization Date |
3.02(a) | |
Closing |
2.02(a) |
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Term Closing Date Common Stock Company Company Disclosure Letter Company Preferred Stock Company SEC Documents Company Securities Confidential Information Contract DOJ Filed SEC Documents FTC Initial Investor Director Designee Investor IRS Judgments Laws Per Share Purchase Price Permits Prohibited Stock Purchase Purchase Price Restraints Termination Date ARTICLE II PURCHASE AND SALE Section 2.01 Purchase and Sale. On the terms of this Agreement and subject to the satisfaction (or, to the extent permitted by
applicable Law, waiver by the party entitled to the benefit thereof) of the conditions set forth in Article VI, at the Closing, the Investor shall purchase and acquire from the Company, and the Company shall issue, sell and deliver to the
Investor, 5,434,783 shares of Common Stock (the Acquired Shares), for a purchase price per share equal to $4.60 (the Per Share Purchase Price) and an aggregate purchase price of $25,000,000 (such aggregate
purchase price, the Purchase Price). The purchase and sale of the Acquired Shares pursuant to this Section 2.01 is referred to as the Purchase. Section 2.02 Closing. (a) On the terms of this Agreement, the closing of the Purchase (the Closing) shall
occur at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the fifth Business Day after all of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article VI of this Agreement have been satisfied or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, waived by the
party entitled to the benefit thereof (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions at such time) either (i) remotely via telephone, video
conference or email, (ii) at the offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 601 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022, or (iii) at such other place, time or date as shall be agreed between the Company and the Investor in writing (the
date on which the Closing occurs, the Closing Date). 9
(b) At the Closing: (i) the Company shall deliver to the Investor (1) the Acquired Shares and (2) the Registration Rights Agreement, duly
executed by the Company; and (ii) the Investor shall (1) pay the Purchase Price to the Company, by wire transfer in
immediately available U.S. federal funds, to the account designated by the Company in writing not less than two Business Days prior to the Closing, (2) deliver to the Company the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Investor and
(3) deliver to the Company a resignation letter in the form attached as Annex IV hereto, duly executed by the Initial Investor Director Designee. Section 2.03 Adjustments. If, during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Closing, any change in the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Company shall occur as a result of any stock split (including reverse stock split), combination or exchange, the number of Acquired Shares and the Per Share Purchase Price shall be equitably adjusted to eliminate the
effect of such event on the number of Acquired Shares and the Per Share Purchase Price. ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY The Company represents and warrants to the Investor as of the date hereof and as of the Closing (except to the extent made only as of a
specified date, in which case such representation and warranty is made as of such date) that, except as (A) set forth in the confidential disclosure letter delivered by the Company to the Investor prior to the execution of this Agreement (the
Company Disclosure Letter) (it being understood that any information, item or matter set forth on one section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosure with respect to, and shall be deemed to apply
to and qualify, the section or subsection of this Agreement to which it corresponds in number and each other section or subsection of this Agreement to the extent that it is reasonably apparent on its face that such information, item or matter is
relevant to such other section or subsection) or (B) disclosed in any report, schedule, form, statement or other document (including exhibits) filed with, or furnished to, the SEC and publicly available after March 25, 2021 and prior to
the date hereof (the Filed SEC Documents), other than any risk factor disclosures in any such Filed SEC Document contained in the Risk Factors section thereof or any forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act thereof: Section 3.01 Organization; Standing. (a) The Company is a corporation
duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. 10
(b) Each Significant Subsidiary is a corporation or limited liability company, as
applicable, duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. The Company and each of the Significant Subsidiaries has all requisite corporate power and corporate authority necessary to carry on its
business as it is now being conducted, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or would prevent or materially delay, materially interfere with, materially hinder or materially
impair the ability of the Company or its Subsidiaries to consummate the Transactions or to perform its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents. The Company and each of the Significant Subsidiaries is duly licensed or qualified to do
business and is in good standing (where such concept is recognized under applicable Law) in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes
such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. True and complete copies of
the Company Charter Documents are included in the Filed SEC Documents. (c) Each of the Companys Subsidiaries (other than the
Significant Subsidiaries) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (where such concept is recognized under applicable Law) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, except where the failure to be so organized, existing
and in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or would prevent or materially delay, materially interfere with, materially hinder or materially impair the ability of the
Company or its Subsidiaries to consummate the Transactions or to perform its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents. Section 3.02 Capitalization. (a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock
and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (Company Preferred Stock). At the close of business on December 5, 2022 (the Capitalization Date), (i) 68,306,959 shares of Common Stock
were issued and outstanding, (ii) 2,851,026 shares of Common Stock were reserved and available for issuance pursuant to the Company Stock Plans, (iii) 2,856,672 shares of Common Stock were subject to outstanding Company Stock Options,
(iv) 1,899,454 Company RSUs were outstanding pursuant to which a maximum of 1,899,454 shares of Common Stock could be issued, (v) 3,241,415 Company PSUs were outstanding pursuant to which a maximum of 6,482,830 shares of Common Stock could be
issued (assuming maximum achievement of all applicable performance conditions), and (vi) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued or outstanding. (b) Except as described in this Section 3.02, as of the Capitalization Date, there were (i) no outstanding
shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company, (ii) no outstanding securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company,
(iii) no outstanding options, warrants, rights or other commitments or agreements to acquire from the Company, or that obligate the Company to issue, any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company other than obligations under the Company Plans in the ordinary course of business, (iv) no obligations of the Company to grant, extend or
enter into any subscription, warrant, right, convertible or exchangeable security or other similar agreement or commitment relating to any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company (the items in clauses (i), (ii), (iii)
and (iv) being referred to collectively as Company Securities) and (v) no other obligations by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make any payments based on the price or value of any Company Securities. There are
no outstanding agreements of 11
any kind which obligate the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Securities (other than pursuant to the cashless exercise of Company Stock
Options or the forfeiture or withholding of Taxes with respect to Company Stock Options, Company RSUs or Company PSUs), or obligate the Company to grant, extend or enter into any such agreements relating to any Company Securities, including any
agreements granting any preemptive rights, subscription rights, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights with respect to any Company Securities. None of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is a party to any
stockholders agreement, voting trust agreement, registration rights agreement or other similar agreement or understanding relating to any Company Securities or any other agreement relating to the disposition, voting or dividends with respect
to any Company Securities. All outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. The Acquired Shares will be, when issued, duly authorized and validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws. Section 3.03
Authority; Noncontravention. (a) The Company has all necessary corporate power and corporate authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Stock Purchase Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to perform
its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Stock Purchase Transactions. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Stock Purchase Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and the
consummation by it of the Stock Purchase Transactions, have been duly authorized and approved by the Board and no other corporate action on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of
this Agreement and the other Stock Purchase Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by it of the Stock Purchase Transactions. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Investor, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except that such enforceability (i) may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar Laws of general application affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors rights generally and (ii) is subject to general principles of
equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity (the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception). (b) Neither the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the other Stock Purchase Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party by the Company, nor the consummation by the Company of the Stock Purchase Transactions, nor performance or compliance by the
Company with any of the terms or provisions hereof or thereof, will (i) conflict with or violate any provision of (A) the Company Charter Documents or (B) the similar organizational documents of any of the Companys Subsidiaries
or (ii) assuming that the authorizations, consents and approvals referred to in Section 3.04 are obtained prior to the Closing Date and the filings referred to in Section 3.04 are made and any
waiting periods thereunder have terminated or expired prior to the Closing Date, (x) violate any Law or Judgment applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) violate or constitute a default (or constitute an event which,
with notice or lapse of time or both, would violate or constitute a default) under any of the terms or provisions of any loan or credit agreement, indenture, debenture, note, bond, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, sublease, license, contract or other
agreement (each, a Contract) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or accelerate the Companys or, if applicable, 12
any of its Subsidiaries obligations under any such Contract, except, in the case of clause (ii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect or prevent or materially delay, materially interfere with, materially hinder or materially impair the ability of the Company or its Subsidiaries to consummate the Transactions or to perform its obligations under any of the Transaction
Documents. Section 3.04 Governmental Approvals. Except for (a) filings required under, and compliance with other applicable
requirements of the HSR Act, (b) filings required by the SEC under the Securities Act and Exchange Act, (c) compliance with the rules and regulations of NYSE and (d) compliance with any applicable state securities or blue sky laws, no
consent or approval of, or filing, license, permit or authorization, declaration or registration with, any Governmental Authority is necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Stock Purchase Transaction Documents by the
Company to which it is a party, the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by the Company of the Stock Purchase Transactions, other than such other consents, approvals, filings, licenses, permits
or authorizations, declarations or registrations that, if not obtained, made or given, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially delay, materially interfere with,
materially hinder or materially impair the ability of the Company or its Subsidiaries to consummate the Transactions or to perform its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents. Section 3.05 Company SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities. (a) The Company has filed with the SEC all reports and material
schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act since March 25, 2021 (collectively, the Company SEC Documents). As of their respective SEC filing
dates, the Company SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to such Company SEC Documents, and none of the Company SEC Documents as of such respective dates (or, if amended prior
to the date hereof, the date of the filing of such amendment, with respect to the disclosures that are amended) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. (b) The consolidated financial statements of the Company
(including all related notes or schedules) included or incorporated by reference in the Company SEC Documents (the Financial Statements) complied as to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, in all material
respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC or other rules and regulations of the SEC and except as otherwise noted in the Companys publicly filed correspondence with the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved
(except (i) as may be indicated in the notes thereto or (ii) as permitted by Regulation S-X) and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and
its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows and equity for the periods shown (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments). The Financial Information and Financial Statements have been prepared from the books and records of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries. 13
(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities of any nature
(whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that would be required under GAAP, as in effect on the date hereof, to be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company (including the notes thereto) except liabilities
(i) reflected or reserved against in the balance sheet (or the notes thereto) of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of January 29, 2022 (the Balance Sheet Date) included in the Filed SEC Documents, (ii) incurred
after the Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business, (iii) as contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise incurred in connection with the Stock Purchase Transactions, (iv) as relate to Taxes, (v) that have been discharged
or paid prior to the date of this Agreement or (vi) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Section 3.06 Absence of Certain Changes. Since January 29, 2022 through the date of this Agreement there has not been
any Material Adverse Effect. Section 3.07 Legal Proceedings. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially delay, materially interfere with, materially hinder or materially impair the ability of the Company or its Subsidiaries to consummate the Transactions or to perform
its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents, as of the date of this Agreement, there is no (a) pending or threatened legal or administrative proceeding, suit, investigation, arbitration or action (an Action)
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (b) outstanding order, judgment, injunction, ruling, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority (Judgments) imposed upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each
case, by or before any Governmental Authority. Section 3.08 Compliance with Laws; Permits. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries are in compliance with all state or federal laws, common law, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules or regulations (Laws) or Judgments, applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries hold all licenses, franchises, permits, certificates, approvals and authorizations from Governmental Authorities
(Permits) necessary for the lawful conduct of their respective businesses, except where the failure to hold the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Section 3.09 Tax Matters. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has prepared (or caused to be prepared) and timely filed
(taking into account valid extensions of time within which to file) all income and other material Tax Returns required to be filed by any of them, and all such filed Tax Returns (taking into account all amendments thereto) are true, complete and
accurate in all material respects and all Taxes owed by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries that are due (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been timely paid or have been adequately reserved against in accordance with GAAP. There
have been no examinations or audits of any Tax Returns or reports by any applicable federal, state, local or foreign governmental agency. There is no proposed deficiency, audit, action, suit or other proceeding with respect to Taxes pending or
threatened in writing. There is no Tax lien, whether imposed by any Governmental Authority, outstanding against the assets, properties or business of the Company, except for liens for Taxes not yet due and payable as may accrue in the ordinary
course of business. The Company has withheld or collected from each payment to each of its employees, contractors or any other third party or Person the amount of all Taxes required to be withheld or collected therefore and has paid the same to the
proper Governmental Authority. 14
Section 3.10 No Rights Agreement; Anti-Takeover Provisions. As of the date
hereof, except as set forth in Article ELEVEN of the Companys certificate of incorporation, the Company is not party to a stockholder rights agreement, poison pill or similar anti-takeover agreement or plan. Section 3.11 Brokers and Other Advisors. Except for Moelis & Company, the fees and expenses of which will
be paid by the Company, no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any brokers, finders, financial advisors or other similar fee or commission, or the reimbursement of expenses in connection
therewith, in connection with the Stock Purchase Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Section 3.12 Sale of Securities. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in
Section 4.09, the sale of the Acquired Shares pursuant to this Agreement is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Without limiting the foregoing, neither the Company nor any other Person
authorized by the Company to act on its behalf, has engaged in a general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D of the Securities Act) of investors with respect to offers or sales of the Common Stock, and neither the
Company nor any Person acting on its behalf has made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause the offering or issuance of the Acquired Shares under this Agreement to be
integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the Securities Act that would result in Regulation D or any other applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act to not be available, nor will the Company take any
action or steps that would cause the offering or issuance of the Acquired Shares under this Agreement to be integrated with other offerings by the Company. Section 3.13 Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange
Act and listed on NYSE, and the Company has taken no action designed to or which is reasonably likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Stock from NYSE, nor has the
Company received as of the date of this Agreement any notification that the SEC or NYSE is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. Section 3.14 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties made by the Company in this
Article III or expressly set forth in any other Transaction Document, neither the Company nor any other Person acting on its behalf makes any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Common Stock, the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, operations, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects, notwithstanding the delivery or disclosure to the Investor or any of its Representatives of any
documentation, forecasts or other information with respect to any one or more of the foregoing, and the Investor acknowledges the foregoing. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except for the representations and
warranties made by the Company in this Article III or expressly set forth in any other Stock Purchase Transaction Document, neither the Company nor any other Person makes or has made any express or implied
15
representation or warranty to the Investor or any of its Representatives with respect to (a) any financial projection, forecast, estimate, budget or prospect information relating to the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses or (b) any oral or written information presented to the Investor or any of its Representatives in the course of its due diligence investigation of the Company, the negotiation of
this Agreement, any other Stock Purchase Transaction Document or the course of the Stock Purchase Transactions or any other Stock Purchase Transactions or potential transactions involving the Company and the Investor. ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE INVESTOR The Investor represents and warrants to the Company, as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date: Section 4.01 Organization; Standing. The Investor is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. The Investor has all requisite corporate power and corporate authority necessary to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good
standing (where such concept is recognized under applicable Law) in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or
qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have an Investor Material Adverse Effect. Section 4.02 Authority; Noncontravention. (a) The Investor has all necessary corporate power and corporate authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Stock Purchase Transaction Documents to which it is a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Stock Purchase Transactions. The execution, delivery and
performance by the Investor of this Agreement and the other Stock Purchase Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by the Investor of the Stock Purchase Transactions have been duly authorized and approved and no other
corporate action on the part of the Investor or any of its stockholders, partners, members or other equity owners, as the case may be, is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by the Investor of this Agreement and the other
Stock Purchase Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by the Investor of the Stock Purchase Transactions. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Investor and, assuming due authorization, execution and
delivery hereof by the Company, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Investor, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception. (b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the other Stock Purchase Transaction Documents to which it is party by the
Investor, nor the consummation by the Investor of the Stock Purchase Transactions, nor performance or compliance by the Investor with any of the terms or provisions hereof or thereof, will (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the
certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other comparable charter or organizational documents of the Investor or (ii) assuming that the authorizations, consents and approvals referred to in Section 4.03 are
obtained prior to the Closing Date and the filings referred to in Section 4.03 16
are made and any waiting periods with respect to such filings have terminated or expired prior to the Closing Date, (x) violate any Law or Judgment applicable to the Investor or any of its
Subsidiaries or (y) violate or constitute a default (or constitute an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would violate or constitute a default) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which the
Investor or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or accelerate the Investors or any of its Subsidiaries, if applicable, obligations under any such Contract, except, in the case of clause (ii), as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have an Investor Material Adverse Effect. Section 4.03 Governmental Approvals.
Except for filings required under, and compliance with other applicable requirements of, the HSR Act, no consent or approval of, or filing, license, permit or authorization, declaration or registration with, any Governmental Authority is necessary
for the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Stock Purchase Transaction Documents by the Investor, the performance by the Investor of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by the Investor of the Stock
Purchase Transactions, other than such other consents, approvals, filings, licenses, permits, authorizations, declarations or registrations that, if not obtained, made or given, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have an Investor Material Adverse Effect. Section 4.04 Sufficiency of Funds. After giving effect to the transactions
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement on the Closing Date and the payments made by Investor thereunder on the Closing Date (including the application of all of the proceeds of the Debt Financing (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) to
the Purchase Price (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) under the Purchase Agreement), Investor shall have sufficient cash funds immediately available to consummate the Stock Purchase Transactions and pay the Purchase Price required hereunder.
Section 4.05 Ownership of Company Stock. Neither the Investor nor any of its Affiliates owns any capital stock or other
securities of the Company. Section 4.06 Brokers and Other Advisors. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other
Person is entitled to any brokers, finders, financial advisors or other similar fee or commission, or the reimbursement of expenses in connection therewith, in connection with the Stock Purchase Transactions based upon arrangements
made by or on behalf of the Investor or any of its Subsidiaries, except for Persons, if any, whose fees and expenses will be paid by the Investor. Section 4.07 Non-Reliance on Company Estimates, Projections, Forecasts, Forward-Looking
Statements and Business Plans. In connection with the due diligence investigation of the Company by the Investor and its Representatives, the Investor and its Representatives have received and may continue to receive from the Company and its
Representatives certain estimates, projections, forecasts and other forward-looking information, as well as certain business plan information, regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses and operations. The Investor
hereby acknowledges that there are uncertainties inherent in attempting to make such estimates, projections, forecasts and other forward-looking statements, as well as in such business plans, with which the Investor is familiar, that the Investor is
taking full responsibility for making its own evaluation of the adequacy and accuracy of all estimates, projections, forecasts and other forward-looking information, as well as such business plans, so furnished to the Investor (including the
reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such 17
estimates, projections, forecasts, forward-looking information or business plans), and that the Investor has not relied on such information (except for the representations and warranties made by
the Company in Article III of this Agreement or expressly set forth in any other Stock Purchase Transaction Document) and will have no claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective Representatives, with
respect thereto. Section 4.08 No Other Investor Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations
and warranties made by the Investor in this Article IV or expressly set forth in any other Transaction Document, neither the Investor nor any other Person acting on its behalf makes any other express or implied representation or warranty with
respect to the Investor, notwithstanding the delivery or disclosure to the Company or its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives of any documentation or other information with respect to the foregoing. Section 4.09 Purchase for Investment. The Investor acknowledges that the Acquired Shares have not been registered under the
Securities Act or under any state or other applicable securities laws. The Investor (a) acknowledges that it is acquiring the Acquired Shares pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act solely for investment and not with
a view to the distribution of the Acquired Shares, (b) will not sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any of the Acquired Shares, except in compliance with this Agreement and the registration requirements or exemption provisions of the
Securities Act and any other applicable securities Laws, (c) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and in investments of this type that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the
Acquired Shares and of making an informed investment decision, (d) is an accredited investor (as that term is defined by Rule 501 of the Securities Act), (e) is a qualified institutional buyer (as that term is defined in
Rule 144A of the Securities Act) and (f) (1) has been furnished with or has had full access to all the information that it considers necessary or appropriate to make an informed investment decision with respect to the Acquired Shares,
(2) has had an opportunity to discuss with the Company and its Representatives the intended business and financial affairs of the Company and to obtain information necessary to verify any information furnished to it or to which it had access
and (3) can bear the economic risk of (i) an investment in the Acquired Shares and (ii) a total loss in respect of such investment. Section 4.10 No Other Company Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties expressly
set forth in Article III or any other Stock Purchase Transaction Document, the Investor hereby acknowledges that neither the Company nor any other Person acting on its behalf, (a) has made or is making any other express or implied
representation or warranty with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects, including with respect to any information provided or
made available to the Investor or any of its Representatives or any information developed by the Investor or any of its Representatives or (b) will have or be subject to any liability or indemnification obligation to the Investor resulting from
the delivery, dissemination or any other distribution to the Investor or any of its Representatives, or the use by the Investor or any of its Representatives, of any information, documents, estimates, projections, forecasts or other forward-looking
information, business plans or other material developed by or provided or made available to the Investor or any of its Representatives, including in due diligence materials, data rooms or management presentations (formal or informal), in
anticipation or 18
contemplation of any of the Stock Purchase Transactions or any other transactions or potential transactions involving the Company and the Investor. The Investor, on behalf of itself and on behalf
of its Affiliates, expressly waives any such claim relating to the foregoing matters. The Investor hereby acknowledges (for itself and on behalf of its Affiliates and Representatives) that it has conducted, to its satisfaction, its own independent
investigation of the business, operations, assets and financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries and, in making its determination to proceed with the Stock Purchase Transactions, the Investor and its Affiliates and Representatives have
relied on the results of their own independent investigation. ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS Section 5.01 Negative Covenants. Except as required by applicable Law, Judgment or to comply with any notice from a Governmental
Authority, as contemplated, required or permitted by this Agreement or as described in Section 5.01 of the Company Disclosure Letter, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date (or such earlier
date on which this Agreement may be terminated pursuant to Section 7.01), unless the Investor otherwise consents in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), the Company shall not: (a) other than the authorization and issuance of the Acquired Shares and the consummation of the other Transactions, issue, sell or grant any
shares of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests, or any securities or rights convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or evidencing the right to subscribe for any shares of its capital stock or other equity or voting
interests, or any rights, warrants or options to purchase any shares of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests; provided, that the Company may issue or grant shares of Common Stock or other securities in the ordinary course of
business under Company Plans in effect on the date of this Agreement or pursuant to equity awards or obligations outstanding on the date of this Agreement or granted after the date of this Agreement not in violation of this Agreement; (b) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any of its outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity or voting interests, or any rights,
warrants or options to acquire any shares of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests (other than pursuant to the cashless exercise of Company Stock Options or the forfeiture or withholding of Taxes with respect to Company Stock Options
Company RSUs or Company PSUs); (c) split, combine, subdivide, recapitalize, reclassify or make like changes to any shares of its capital
stock or other equity or voting interests; (d) make any investments in a third party; (e) establish a record date for, declare, set aside for payment or pay any dividend, make any payment on, or make any other distribution in
respect of, any shares of its or any Subsidiarys capital stock or other equity or voting interests; or (f) incur any indebtedness
for borrowed money, other than indebtedness permitted under the ABL Credit Agreement (including any revolving credit borrowings thereunder) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $190 million, excluding any letters of credit issued
under the ABL Credit Agreement at any time. 19
Section 5.02 Reasonable Best Efforts; Filings. (a) Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, each of the Company and the Investor shall cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause its Subsidiaries to use) its reasonable best efforts (unless, with respect to any action, another standard of performance is
expressly provided for herein) to promptly (i) take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to be done, and assist and cooperate with each other in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to cause the conditions to Closing
to be satisfied as promptly as reasonably practicable and to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner reasonably practicable, the Transactions, including preparing and filing promptly and fully all documentation to effect all
necessary filings, notices, petitions, statements, registrations, submissions of information, applications and other documents, (ii) obtain all approvals, consents, registrations, waivers, permits, authorizations, orders and other confirmations
from any Governmental Authority or third party necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Transactions, (iii) execute and deliver any additional instruments necessary to consummate the Transactions and (iv) defend or contest in good
faith any Action brought by a third party that could otherwise prevent or impede, interfere with, hinder or delay in any material respect the consummation of the Transactions. (b) The Company and the Investor agree to make an appropriate filing of a Notification and Report Form (HSR Form) pursuant
to the HSR Act with respect to the Transactions (which shall request the early termination of any waiting period applicable to the Transactions under the HSR Act) as promptly as reasonably practicable and in any event no later than ten
(10) Business Days following the date of this Agreement, and to supply as promptly as reasonably practicable any additional information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR Act and to promptly take any and all
steps necessary to avoid or eliminate each and every impediment and obtain all consents that may be required pursuant to the HSR Act, so as to enable the parties hereto to consummate the Transactions. (c) Each of the Company and the Investor shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) cooperate in all respects with the other party in
connection with any filing or submission with a Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry by or before a Governmental Authority relating to the Transactions, including any
proceeding initiated by a private person, (ii) keep the other party informed in all material respects and on a reasonably timely basis of any material communication received by the Company or the Investor, as the case may be, from or given by
the Company or the Investor, as the case may be, to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice (DOJ) or any other Governmental Authority and of any material communication received or given in
connection with any proceeding by a private Person, in each case regarding the Transactions, (iii) subject to applicable Laws relating to the exchange of information, and to the extent reasonably practicable, consult with the other party with
respect to information relating to such party and its respective Subsidiaries, as the case may be, that appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any third Person or any Governmental Authority in connection with the
Transactions, other than 4(c) and 4(d) documents as that term is used in the rules and regulations under the HSR Act and other confidential information contained in the HSR Form, and (iv) to the extent permitted by the FTC, the
DOJ or such other applicable Governmental Authority or other Person, give the other party the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and conferences. 20
Section 5.03 Public Disclosure. The communications plan release with respect to
the execution of this Agreement, including all public announcements, Forms 8-K and press releases related thereto, shall be reasonably agreed upon by the Investor and the Company. Thereafter, the Investor and
the Company shall consult with each other a reasonable amount of time before issuing, and give each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release or other public statements with respect to the Transaction Documents or the
Transactions, and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as may be required by Governmental Authorities, applicable Law, Judgment, court process rules or regulations of any stock
exchange upon which such partys or its Subsidiarys capital stock is traded. The foregoing notwithstanding, a party, its Subsidiaries or their respective Representatives may issue a public announcement or other public disclosures
(a) required by applicable Law, Judgment or court process, (b) required by the rules or regulations of any stock exchange upon which such partys or its Subsidiarys capital stock is traded or (c) consistent with any
previous public announcement or public disclosure (including any Current Reports on Form 8-K or Form 8-K/A) made by the parties in accordance with this
Section 5.03; provided that, in each case, such party shall use reasonable best efforts to afford the other party an opportunity to first review the content of the proposed disclosure and provide reasonable comments
thereon, except as may be required by Governmental Authorities, applicable Law, Judgment, court process rules or regulations of any stock exchange upon which such partys or its Subsidiarys capital stock is traded. Section 5.04 Confidentiality. (a) The Investor and the Company acknowledge that the Company and WHP have previously executed the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall
continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. (b) Following the Closing, the Investor will, and will cause its
controlled Affiliates and the Investor Recipients and its and their respective Representatives to, keep confidential any information (including oral, written and electronic information) concerning the Company or its Subsidiaries and furnished to the
Investor, its controlled Affiliates, the Investor Recipients or their respective Representatives by the Company or any of its Representatives in connection with the terms of this Agreement (collectively referred to as the Confidential
Information) and to use the Confidential Information solely for the purposes of monitoring, administering or managing the Investors investment in the Company made pursuant to this Agreement; provided that the Confidential Information
shall not include information that (i) was or becomes available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by the Investor, any of its controlled Affiliates, the Investor Recipients or any of their respective Representatives in
violation of this Section 5.04, (ii) was or becomes available to the Investor, any of its controlled Affiliates, the Investor Recipients or any of their respective Representatives from a source other than the Company or its
Representatives, provided that Investor does not know such source is disclosing such information in violation of an obligation of confidentiality (whether by agreement or otherwise) to the Company, (iii) at the time of disclosure is already in
the possession of the Investor, its controlled Affiliates, the Investor Recipients or their respective Representatives, 21
provided that Investor does not know such information is subject to an obligation of confidentiality to the Company, or (iv) was independently developed or conceived by the Investor, its
controlled Affiliates, the Investor Recipients or their respective Representatives without reference to, incorporation of, or other use of any Confidential Information. The Investor agrees, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates and its and their
respective Representatives, that Confidential Information may be disclosed solely (A) to the Investors controlled Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives on a
need-to-know basis, (B) to any partner, member, manager or related investment fund of the Investor and its controlled Affiliates (the Investor
Recipients) in the ordinary course of business (provided that the recipients of such confidential information are directed to abide by the confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations
contained herein and in the Confidentiality Agreement) or (C) in the event that the Investor, any of its Affiliates, any Investor Recipient or any of its or their respective Representatives are requested or required by Governmental Authorities,
applicable Law, Judgment, stock exchange rule or other applicable judicial or governmental process (including by deposition, interrogatory, request for documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any Confidential
Information, in each of which instances the Investor, its Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives, as the case may be, shall provide notice to the Company sufficiently in advance of any such disclosure so that the Company will have a
reasonable opportunity to timely seek to limit, condition or quash such disclosure. Section 5.05 Standstill. Except as
otherwise expressly permitted in this Agreement, the Investor agrees that until the later of (i) the Fall-Away of Investor Board Rights and (ii) the 12-month anniversary of the Closing Date, without
the prior written approval of the Board, the Investor will not, directly or indirectly, and will cause its Affiliates not to: (a)
acquire, offer or seek to acquire, agree to acquire or make a proposal to acquire, by purchase or otherwise, any securities or direct or indirect rights to acquire any securities of the Company or any of its Affiliates, any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for any such securities, any options or other derivative securities or contracts or instruments in any way related to the price of shares of Common Stock or any assets or property of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
(but in any case excluding any issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock or options, warrants or other rights to acquire Common Stock (or the exercise thereof) (x) pursuant to any stock dividend or distribution, stock split or other
recapitalization or reclassification of the Common Stock or pursuant to any shareholder rights plan or similar plan or (y) to the Investor Director as compensation for his or her membership on the Board); provided that this clause
(a) shall not limit the Investor or its Affiliates from acquiring, offering or seeking to acquire, agreeing to acquire or making a proposal to acquire Common Stock to the extent that, upon consummation of any such transaction, the Investor and
its Affiliates would beneficially own Common Stock in an amount not exceeding 15.0% of the then outstanding Common Stock of the Company that does not otherwise violate this Section 5.05; (b) make or knowingly encourage or participate in any solicitation of proxies (whether or not relating to the election
or removal of directors), as such terms are used in the rules of the SEC, to vote, or knowingly seek to advise or influence any Person with respect to voting of, any voting securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or call or seek to
call a meeting of the Companys stockholders or initiate any stockholder proposal for action by the Companys stockholders, or seek election to or to place a representative on the Board (other than the Investor Director pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement) or seek the removal of any director from the Board; 22
(c) demand a copy of the stock ledger list of stockholders or any other books and records of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (d) make any announcement with respect to, or offer, seek, propose or indicate an interest in (in
each case with or without conditions), any merger, consolidation, business combination, tender or exchange offer, recapitalization, reorganization or purchase of a material portion of the assets, properties or securities of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any other extraordinary transaction involving the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective securities, or enter into any discussions, negotiations, arrangements, understandings or agreements
(whether written or oral) with any other Person regarding any of the foregoing; (e) otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, to
seek to control or influence, in any manner, the management, Board or policies of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (f) initiate,
solicit, assist or join as a party any Action against the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates (including derivative Actions) other than to enforce the provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Agreements; (g) increase its beneficial ownership of the Common Stock to more than 15%; (h) take any action that would require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make a public announcement regarding the possibility of a
transaction or any of the events described in this Section 5.05; (i) enter into any discussions, negotiations,
arrangements, understandings or agreements with any third party (including, without limitation, security holders of the Company) with respect to any of the matters that are the subject of this Section 5.05, including, without limitation,
forming, joining or participating in a group (as defined in Sections 13(d)(3) and 13(g)(3) of the Exchange Act) with any third party with respect to any securities of the Company or otherwise in connection with any of the matters that
are the subject of this Section 5.05; (j) request the Company or any of its Representatives, directly or indirectly, to amend or
waive any provision of this Section 5.05, provided that this clause shall not prohibit the Investor Parties from making a confidential request to the Company seeking an amendment or waiver of the provisions of this
Section 5.05, which the Company may accept or reject in its sole discretion, so long as any such request is made in a manner that does not require public disclosure thereof by any Person; (k) contest the validity of this Section 5.05 or make, initiate, take or participate in any demand, Action (legal or
otherwise) or proposal to amend, waive or terminate any provision of this Section 5.05; (l) advise, assist,
knowingly encourage or direct any Person in connection with or with respect to, or to advise, assist, knowingly encourage or direct any other Person in connection with or with respect to, any of the activities set forth in clauses (a) through
(k) of this sentence or propose any of such activities to any other person; or 23
(m) make any public proposal or statement of inquiry or publicly disclose any intention,
plan or arrangement inconsistent with any of the foregoing (provided that the Investor shall be permitted to file an amendment to the Investors Schedule 13D solely to reflect an acquisition or a disposition of beneficial ownership of the
Common Stock that does not otherwise violate this Section 5.05 or as otherwise required by Law); provided,
however, that nothing in this Section 5.05 will limit (1) the Investor Parties ability to vote (subject to Section 5.09) or Transfer (subject to
Section 5.06) its Common Stock if not otherwise expressly prohibited by this Section 5.09, (2) the ability of any Investor Director to vote in his or her capacity as a member of the Board or
otherwise exercise its fiduciary duties in his or her capacity as a member of the Board, (3) any Investor Party from taking action necessary to comply with its obligations under the Transaction Documents or (4) the Investor Parties
ability to submit a proposal to the Board that would otherwise be prohibited by this Section 5.05 if any such proposal is submitted to the Board on a strictly confidential basis and would not require, or reasonably be
expected to require, the Investor, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates to make a public announcement or public filing. In addition, the Investors obligations under this Section 5.05 shall terminate
immediately (and without further action by any party hereto) if the Company or its Subsidiaries make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or commence any proceeding under any bankruptcy law or any bankruptcy proceeding is commenced against the
Company or its Subsidiaries. Section 5.06 Transfer Restrictions. (a) Except as otherwise permitted in this Agreement,
until July 1, 2026, the Investor Parties will not (i) Transfer any shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Investor Parties (the Prohibited Stock) or (ii) make any short sale of, grant any option for the
purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a short sale of or the purpose of which is to offset the loss which results from a decline in the market price of, any shares of Prohibited Stock, or
otherwise establish or increase, directly or indirectly, a put equivalent position, as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, with respect to any of the Prohibited Stock or any other capital stock of
the Company; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 5.06 shall prevent or restrict (i) the direct or indirect Transfer of Prohibited Stock or (ii) the pledge or encumbrance of any interest
in Prohibited Stock under any credit facility or replacement credit facility of the Investor or its Affiliates. (b) Notwithstanding
Section 5.06(a), the Investor Parties shall be permitted to Transfer any portion or all of their Prohibited Stock at any time under the following circumstances: (i) Transfers to any Affiliates of the Investor, but only if the transferee agrees in writing prior to such Transfer for the
express benefit of the Company (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and with a copy thereof to be furnished to the Company) to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and if the transferee and the transferor agree for the
express benefit of the Company that the transferee shall Transfer the Prohibited Stock so Transferred back to the transferor at or before such time as the transferee ceases to be an Affiliate of the transferor; 24
(ii) Transfers pursuant to a merger, tender offer or exchange offer or other
business combination or acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or similar transaction or any change of control transaction involving the Company or any Subsidiary that, in each case, is approved by the Board; (iii) Transfers pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer by a third party that is approved by the Board and is for more
than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the Companys then-outstanding common equity; and (iv)
Transfers approved in writing by the Board. (c) Notwithstanding Sections 5.06(a) and (b), the Investor Parties and their
respective Affiliates will not at any time (without the prior written consent of the Board) Transfer any Prohibited Stock to a Prohibited Transferee. (d) Notwithstanding Sections 5.06(a) and (b), the Investor Parties will not at any time, directly or indirectly, tender any
shares of Prohibited Stock into any tender offer (as defined in Regulation 14D under the Exchange Act) to acquire the equity securities of the Company that has not been approved by the Board. (e) Any attempted Transfer in violation of this Section 5.06 shall be null and void ab initio and the Company
shall not in any way give effect to such impermissible Transfer. Section 5.07 Legend. (a) All certificates or other
instruments representing the Acquired Shares will bear a legend substantially to the following effect: THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS
INSTRUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT WHILE A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING THERETO IS IN EFFECT UNDER
SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS. THE SECURITIES
REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO TRANSFER AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN AN INVESTMENT AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2022, COPIES OF WHICH ARE ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE ISSUER. (b) Upon request of the applicable Investor Party, upon receipt by the Company of an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company
to the effect that such legend is no longer required under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, the Company shall promptly cause the first paragraph of the legend to be removed from any certificate for any Prohibited Stock to be
Transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the second paragraph of the legend shall be removed upon the expiration of such transfer and other restrictions set forth in this Agreement (and, for the avoidance of doubt, immediately
prior to any termination of this Agreement) or upon the Transfer in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to any Person that is not subject to the transfer and other restrictions set forth in this Agreement. 25
Section 5.08 Election of Directors. (a) Effective as of the Closing, the
Board will increase the size of the Board to 11 members and the Board shall elect Yehuda Shmidman (such individual, the Initial Investor Director Designee) to the Board. (b) Upon the occurrence of the Fall-Away of Investor Board Rights, the Investor Director shall immediately resign, and the Investor Parties
shall cause the Investor Director immediately to resign, from the Board effective as of the date of the Fall-Away of Investor Board Rights, and the Investor Parties shall no longer have any rights under this Section 5.08,
including, for the avoidance of doubt, any designation or nomination rights under Section 5.08(c). (c) Until
the occurrence of the Fall-Away of Investor Board Rights, at any annual meeting of the Companys stockholders at which the term of the Investor Director shall expire, the Investor shall have the right to designate one Investor Director, which
Investor Director shall be nominated by the Board for election at such annual meeting. The Company shall include the Investor Designee designated by the Investor in accordance with this Section 5.08(c) in the Companys
slate of nominees for the applicable annual meeting of the Companys stockholders and shall recommend that the Companys stockholders vote in favor of such Investor Designee and shall support the Investor Designee in a manner substantially
no less favorable than the manner in which the Company supports its other non-executive nominees in the aggregate. (d) In the event of the death, disability, resignation or removal of the Investor Director as a member of the Board (other than resignation
pursuant to Section 5.08(b)), the Investor may designate an Investor Designee to replace such Investor Director and, subject to Section 5.08(e), the Company shall cause such Investor Designee to
fill such resulting vacancy within five Business Days of such designation by the Investor. (e) The Companys obligations to have any
Investor Designee elected to the Board or nominate any Investor Designee for election as a director at any meeting of the Companys stockholders pursuant to this Section 5.08, as applicable, shall in each case be
subject to (A) such Investor Designees satisfaction of all requirements regarding service as a director of the Company under applicable Law and stock exchange rules regarding service as a director of the Company and all other criteria and
qualifications for service as a director applicable to all directors of the Company and (B) otherwise being reasonably acceptable to the Compensation and Governance Committee of the Board. The Investor Parties will cause each Investor Designee
to make himself or herself reasonably available for interviews and to consent to such reference and background checks as the Board may reasonably request to determine the Investors Nominees eligibility and qualification to serve as a
director of the Company. No Investor Designee shall be eligible to serve on the Board if he or she has been involved in any of the events enumerated under Item 2(d) of Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act or Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K or is subject to any Judgment prohibiting service as a director of any public company. As a condition to any Investor Designees election to the Board or nomination for election as a director of the Company
at any meeting of the Companys stockholders, the Investor Parties and the Investor Designee must provide to the Company: 26
(i) all information reasonably requested by the Company that is required to
be or is customarily disclosed for directors, candidates for directors and their respective Affiliates and Representatives in a proxy statement or other filings in accordance with applicable Law, any stock exchange rules or listing standards or the
Company Charter Documents or corporate governance guidelines, in each case, relating to the Investor Designees election as a director of the Company or the Companys operations in the ordinary course of business; (ii) all information reasonably requested by the Company in connection with assessing eligibility, independence and other
criteria applicable to directors or satisfying compliance and legal or regulatory obligations, in each case, relating to the Investor Designees nomination or election, as applicable, as a director of the Company or the Companys
operations in the ordinary course of business; (iii) an undertaking in writing by the Investor Designee: (A) to be subject to, bound by and duly comply with applicable Law, the Company Charter Documents, the policies, procedures,
processes, codes, rules, standards and guidelines applicable to all Board members or members of any committee of which such Investor Designee may be a member, including the Companys Code of Conduct, insider trading policy and all other Company
policies and guidelines applicable generally to directors serving on the Board with respect to trading in the Companys securities; (B) to keep confidential all information about the Company and its Affiliates of which he or she becomes aware in his or her
capacity as a member of the Board; provided that the Investor Designee may communicate information about the Company and its Affiliates to the Investor or its Affiliates solely for the purposes of monitoring, administering or managing the
Investors investment in the Company made pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that the Investor acknowledges and agrees that (x) it is aware (and that the recipients of such information will be advised by the Investor) that such
information may contain material non-public information regarding the Company and its Affiliates and that the United States securities Laws prohibit any Persons who have such material, non-public information from purchasing or selling securities of the the Company on the basis of such information or from communicating such information to any person under circumstances in which it is reasonably
foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities on the basis of such information and (y) it shall not (and it shall cause the recipients of such information to not), directly or indirectly, use, or allow any third
party to use, any such information in violation of any United States Laws or, other than the Transactions, in connection with the purchase or sale of securities, properties or indebtedness; and 27
(C) to recuse himself or herself from any deliberations or discussion of
the Board or any committee thereof (i) regarding any Transaction Document, the Transactions or any matters relating thereto or any transactions with or matters relating to the Investor or any Investor Affiliate and (ii) that, in the
Boards sole judgment, would reasonably be likely to (A) result in a conflict of interest, (B) adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel, or (C) result in a violation of applicable Law;
and (iv) a written irrevocable resignation substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex III. (f) The Company shall be permitted to withhold any information and to exclude the Investor Directors from any meeting or portion thereof with
respect to information and meetings involving items to which Section 5.08(e)(iii)(C) is applicable. (g) The
Company shall provide the Investor Director with the same director benefits as other non-employee members of the Board, including (i) compensation for such directors service as a director and
reimbursement of such directors expenses on the same basis as all other non-employee directors of the Company; (ii) equity-based compensation grants and other benefits, if any, on the same basis as
all other non-employee directors of Company; and (iii) the same rights of indemnification and directors and officers liability insurance coverage as the other
non-employee directors of the Company as such rights may exist from time to time. Section 5.09 Voting. Until the Fall-Away of Investor Board Rights: (a) at each meeting of the stockholders of the Company and at every postponement or adjournment thereof, the Investor shall, and shall cause
the Investor Parties to, take such action as may be required so that all of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Investor Parties are voted in the same manner as recommended by the Board to the other holders
of Common Stock (including with respect to director elections); provided, that no Investor Party shall be under any obligation to vote in the same manner as recommended by the Board or in any other manner, other than in its sole discretion,
with respect to the approval (or non-approval) or adoption (or non-adoption) of, or other proposal directly related to, any merger or other business combination
involving the Company, the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any other change of control transaction involving the Company; provided, further, that in the event that any proposal
submitted by a stockholder is subject to a vote of the Companys stockholders, the Investor shall not, and shall cause the Investor Parties not to, publicly comment on such proposal or otherwise discuss such proposal with any stockholder other
than the Investor Parties or their Affiliates; and (b) the Investor shall, and shall (to the extent necessary to comply with this
Section 5.09) cause the Investor Parties to, be present, in person or by proxy, at all meetings of the stockholders of the Company so that all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Investor or the Investor
Parties may be counted for the purposes of determining the presence of a quorum and voted in accordance with Section 5.09(a) at such meetings (including at any adjournments or postponements thereof). 28
Section 5.10 Tax Matters. (a) The Company and any applicable withholding
agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amounts otherwise payable with respect to the Acquired Shares to the extent required by applicable Law. Any amounts that are so withheld shall be timely paid over to the appropriate tax
authority and shall be treated for all purposes of the applicable Transaction Documents and Company Charter Documents as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made. Prior to the date of any such
payment and at such other times as may be requested in writing by the Company, the Investor (or any transferee) shall deliver to the Company or its paying agent a duly executed, valid, accurate and properly completed Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) Form W-9 or an appropriate IRS Form W-8, as applicable, along with any other documentation requested by the Company in writing reasonably
necessary to comply with its Tax reporting obligations under applicable Law. (b) The Company shall pay any and all documentary, stamp and
similar issue or transfer Tax due on the issuance of the Acquired Shares to the Investor. (c) On or prior to the Closing, the Company
shall deliver to Investor an IRS Form W-9, duly and validly executed by the Company. Section 5.11 Information Rights. Following the Closing and prior to the Fall-Away of Investor Board Rights, and subject to
Section 5.05(c), in order to facilitate the Investors compliance with legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the beneficial ownership by the Investor and its Affiliates of equity securities of the Company and
oversight of the Investors investment in the Company, the Company agrees to provide the Investor with (a) reasonable access, to the extent reasonably requested by the Investor, to the offices and the properties of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, including its and their books and records, subject to Section 5.05(c), and to discuss its and their affairs, finances and accounts with its and their officers, all upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable
times and as often as the Investor may reasonably request; provided, that any investigation pursuant to this Section 5.11 shall be conducted in a manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the
business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (b) copies of all material, substantive materials provided to the Board at substantially the same time as provided to the directors of the Company; provided, that neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries shall be obligated to provide such access or materials if the Company determines, in its reasonable judgment, that doing so could (i) result in the disclosure of trade secrets or competitively sensitive information to
third parties, (ii) violate applicable Law, an applicable Judgment or a Contract or obligation of confidentiality owing to a third party, (iii) jeopardize the protection of an attorney-client privilege, attorney work product protection or
other similar legal privilege or (iv) be adverse to the interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any pending or threatened Action involving the Company and the Investor. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will provide any information or material that relate to, contain or reflect any analyses, studies, notes, memoranda and other information related to or prepared in connection with any
Transaction Document, the Transactions or any matters relating thereto or any transactions with or matters relating to the Investor or any of Investors Affiliates. Section 5.12 Investor Consent Rights. Following the Closing and prior to the Fall-Away of Investor Board Rights, unless the
Investor has otherwise consented to in writing, the Company shall not: 29
(a) amend the Company Charter Documents in a manner that would disproportionately and
adversely affect any Investor Party; or (b) authorize or issue any class or series of capital stock that ranks senior to the Common Stock
and has preference or priority over the Common Stock as to dividend rights, rights of redemption or rights on the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company. Section 5.13 Use of Proceeds. The Company shall use the proceeds from the Transaction Consideration to (a) repay the Company
Credit Facility in full, (b) fund to IPCo the guaranteed minimum royalties associated with the first year of the term of the License Agreement, in accordance with its terms, (c) pay any costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with
the Transactions, (d) pay the estimated or final Tax liabilities associated with the Transactions and (e) fund general corporate purposes of the Company. ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING Section 6.01 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company and the Investor. The respective obligations of each
of the Company and the Investor to effect the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by the Company and the Investor, if permissible under applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions: (a) the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement shall have been consummated immediately prior to, or will be consummated
substantially concurrently with, the Closing; (b) no Judgment enacted, promulgated, issued, entered, amended or enforced by any
Governmental Authority (collectively, Restraints) shall be in effect enjoining or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Transactions; and (c) the waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of Transactions under the HSR Act shall have expired or
early termination thereof shall have been granted. Section 6.02 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company. The obligations
of the Company to effect the Closing shall be further subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by the Company, if permissible under applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions: (a) the representations and warranties of the Investor set forth in (i) Article IV of this Agreement, other than the first
sentence of Section 4.01 and Section 4.02(a), shall be true and correct (disregarding all qualifications or limitations as to materiality, Material Adverse Effect and words
of similar import set forth therein) as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date),
except, in the case of this clause (i), where the failure to be true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have an Investor Material Adverse Effect and (ii) set forth in the first sentence of
Section 4.01 and Section 4.02(a) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date, other than
any de minimis inaccuracies; 30
(b) the Investor shall have complied with or performed in all material respects its
obligations required to be complied with or performed by it pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing; and (c) the Company
shall have received a certificate, signed on behalf of the Investor by an executive officer thereof, certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 6.02(a) and Section 6.02(b) have been
satisfied. Section 6.03 Conditions to the Obligations of the Investor. The obligations of the Investor to effect the Closing
shall be further subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by the Investor, if permissible under applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions: (a) the representations and warranties of the Company (i) set forth in Sections 3.02, 3.11 and 3.12 shall be
true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date),
(ii) set forth in Section 3.06 and 3.10 shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date, (iii) set forth in
Section 3.01(a) and Section 3.03(a), shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date, other than any de minimis
inaccuracies, and (iv) set forth in Article III of this Agreement, other than in Section 3.01(a), 3.02, 3.03(a), 3.06, 3.10, 3.11 and 3.12, shall be true and correct
(disregarding all qualifications or limitations as to materiality, Material Adverse Effect and words of similar import set forth therein) as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as
of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), except, in the case of this clause (iv), where the failure to be true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) the Company shall have complied with or performed in all material respects
its obligations required to be complied with or performed by it pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing; (c) the Investor
shall have received a certificate, signed on behalf of the Company by an executive officer thereof, certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 6.03(a) and Section 6.03(b) have been
satisfied; and (d) the Board shall have taken all actions necessary and appropriate to cause to be elected to the Board, effective
immediately upon the Closing, the Initial Investor Director Designee. 31
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION; SURVIVAL Section 7.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Stock Purchase Transactions abandoned at any time prior to the
Closing: (a) by the mutual written consent of the Company and the Investor; (b) by either the Company or the Investor if the Purchase Agreement is validly terminated pursuant to its terms. (c) by either the Company or the Investor upon written notice to the other, if the Closing should not have occurred on or prior to
April 7, 2023 (the Termination Date); provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.01(c) shall not be available to any party if the breach by such party of its
representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement or the failure of such party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement has been a principal cause of or resulted in the events specified in this
Section 7.01(c); (d) by either the Company or the Investor if any Restraint enjoining or otherwise prohibiting
consummation of the Stock Purchase Transactions shall be in effect and shall have become final and nonappealable; provided that the party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.01(d) shall
have used the required efforts to cause the conditions to Closing to be satisfied in accordance with Section 5.02; (e) by the Investor if the Company shall have breached any of its representations or warranties or failed to perform any of its covenants or
agreements set forth in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.03(a) or Section 6.03(b) and (ii) is
incapable of being cured prior to the Termination Date, or if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured within 30 calendar days following receipt by the Company of written notice of such breach or failure to perform from the Investor
stating the Investors intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.01(e) and the basis for such termination; provided that the Investor shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement
pursuant to this Section 7.01(e) if the Investor is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements hereunder which breach would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth
in Section 6.02(a) or Section 6.02(b); or (f) by the Company if the Investor shall
have breached any of its representations or warranties or failed to perform any of its covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in
Section 6.02(a) or Section 6.02(b) and (ii) is incapable of being cured prior to the Termination Date, or if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured within 30 calendar days
following receipt by the Investor of written notice of such breach or failure to perform from the Company stating the Companys intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.01(f) and the basis for
such termination; provided that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.01(f) if the Company is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties,
covenants or agreements hereunder which breach would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.02(a) or Section 6.02(b). 32
Section 7.02 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this
Agreement as provided in Section 7.01, written notice thereof shall be given to the other party, specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which such termination is made, and this Agreement shall forthwith become null and
void (other than Section 5.04, this Section 7.02 and Article VIII, all of which shall survive termination of this Agreement), and there shall be no liability on the part of the Investor or
the Company or their respective directors, officers and Affiliates in connection with this Agreement, except that no such termination shall relieve any party from liability for damages to another party resulting from a knowing or intentional
breach of this Agreement or from fraud. Section 7.03 Survival. The representations and warranties of the parties set forth in
this Agreement and in any document delivered in connection herewith shall not survive the Closing. All of the covenants or other agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement shall survive until fully performed or fulfilled, unless and to
the extent that non-compliance with such covenants or agreements is waived in writing by the party entitled to such performance. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no party shall have any
liability to the other in excess of the Purchase Price, and no party shall be liable for any special, speculative, consequential or punitive damages with respect to this Agreement. ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS Section 8.01 Amendments; Waivers. Subject to compliance with applicable Law, this Agreement may be amended or supplemented in any
and all respects by written agreement of the parties hereto. Section 8.02 Extension of Time, Waiver, Etc. The Company
and the Investor may, subject to applicable Law, (a) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, (b) extend the time for the performance of
any of the obligations or acts of the other party or (c) waive compliance by the other party with any of the agreements contained herein applicable to such party or, except as otherwise provided herein, waive any of such partys
conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by the Company or the Investor in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party. Section 8.03 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned, in
whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise, by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other party hereto; provided, however, that (a) the Investor or any Investor Party may assign its rights, interests and
obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to one or more Investor Parties and (b) in the event of such assignment, the assignee shall agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, including the rights, interests
and obligations so assigned; provided, that no such assignment will relieve the Investor of its obligations hereunder unless and until such obligations have been performed or satisfied. 33
Section 8.04 Counterparts. This Agreement and any other Stock Purchase
Transaction Documents may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by facsimile and electronic mail), each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall
become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto (including by electronic signature) and delivered to the other parties hereto (including electronically, e.g., in PDF format). Section 8.05 Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement, including the Company Disclosure Letter, together
with the other Stock Purchase Transaction Documents constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties and their Affiliates, or any of them, with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof. Except as provided in Section 5.08(g), no provision of this Agreement shall confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their permitted assigns any rights or remedies
hereunder. Section 8.06 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. (a) This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether in
contract, tort or statute) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any
representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement or as an inducement to enter into this Agreement), shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in
and to be performed entirely within that State, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under any applicable conflict of Laws principles. (b) All Actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (or,
if the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over any Action, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware) and the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such
courts in any such Action and irrevocably waive the defense of an inconvenient forum or lack of jurisdiction to the maintenance of any such Action. The consents to jurisdiction and venue set forth in this Section 8.06 shall
not constitute general consents to service of process in the State of Delaware and shall have no effect for any purpose except as provided in this paragraph and shall not be deemed to confer rights on any Person other than the parties hereto. Each
party hereto agrees that service of process upon such party in any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be effective if notice is given by overnight courier at the address set forth in Section 8.09 of
this Agreement. The parties hereto agree that a final judgment in any such Action shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Law; provided,
however, that nothing in the foregoing shall restrict any partys rights to seek any post-judgment relief regarding, or any appeal from, a final trial court judgment. Section 8.07 Specific Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage for which monetary relief, even if available,
would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any provision of this Agreement is not performed in accordance with its specific terms or is otherwise breached, including if the parties hereto fail to take any action required of them
hereunder to cause the Closing to occur, and that time is of the essence. The parties acknowledge and agree that (a) the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, specific performance
34
or other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the right of the Company to
cause the Purchase to be consummated on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement) in the courts described in Section 8.06 without proof of damages or otherwise, this being in addition to any other
remedy to which they are entitled under this Agreement and (b) the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of the Stock Purchase Transactions and without that right, neither the Company nor the Investor would have entered into this
Agreement. The parties hereto agree not to assert that a remedy of specific enforcement is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to Law or inequitable for any reason, and agree not to assert that a remedy of monetary damages would provide an adequate
remedy or that the parties otherwise have an adequate remedy at law. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any party seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and
provisions of this Agreement in accordance with this Section 8.07 shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction. Section 8.08 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS
LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE STOCK PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO
REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE
IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVER, (C) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 8.08. Section 8.09 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given if delivered personally, emailed (which is confirmed) or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties at the following addresses: If to the Company, to it at: One Express Drive Columbus, OH
43230 Attention: [*****] Email: [*****] with a copy
(which shall not constitute notice) to: 35
Kirkland & Ellis LLP 601 Lexington Avenue New York,
NY 10022 Eric Schiele, P.C. Rachael Coffey, P.C. eric.schiele@kirkland.com rachael.coffey@kirkland.com If to the Investor or any Investor Party, to the Investor at: WH Borrower, LLC c/o WHP
Global 530 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor New York, New York 10036 E-mail: [*****] Attention: [*****] with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: Goodwin Procter LLP 100
Northern Avenue Boston, MA 02210 United States Joshua M. Zachariah R. Kirkie Maswoswe Sean M. Donahue jzachariah@goodwinlaw.com kmaswoswe@goodwinlaw.com sdonahue@goodwinlaw.com or such other address or email address as such party may hereafter specify by like notice to the other party hereto. All such notices, requests and other
communications shall be deemed received on the date of actual receipt by the recipient thereof if received prior to 5:00 p.m. local time in the place of receipt and such day is a Business Day in the place of receipt. Otherwise, any such notice,
request or communication shall be deemed not to have been received until the next succeeding Business Day in the place of receipt. Section 8.10 Severability. If any term, condition or other provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law or public policy, all other terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect. Upon such determination that any
term, condition or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable Law. 36
Section 8.11 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all costs
and expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Stock Purchase Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or
not the Closing shall have occurred. Section 8.12 Interpretation. (a) When a reference is made in this Agreement to an
Article, a Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to an Article of, a Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words include, includes or including are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be
followed by the words without limitation. The words hereof, herein and hereunder and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular provision of this Agreement. The words date hereof when used in this Agreement shall refer to the date of this Agreement. The terms or, any and either are not exclusive. The word
extent in the phrase to the extent shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply if. The word will shall be construed to have the same meaning
and effect as the word shall. The words made available to the Investor and words of similar import refer to documents (A) posted to the datasite for Project Wardrobe by or on behalf of the Company or (B) delivered
in Person or electronically to the Investor or its respective Representatives. All accounting terms used and not defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP. All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined
meanings when used in any document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well
as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term. In the event that the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange other than NYSE, all references herein to NYSE shall be deemed to be references to such other national securities
exchange. Any agreement or instrument defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement or instrument as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including by waiver or
consent and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein. References to any Law shall be deemed to refer to such Law as amended from time to time and to any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder. Unless otherwise
specifically indicated, all references to dollars or $ shall refer to the lawful money of the United States. References to a Person are also to its permitted assigns and successors. All references to days shall be
to calendar days unless otherwise indicated as a Business Day. When calculating the period of time between which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the
reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded (unless, otherwise required by Law, if the last day of such period is not a Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next succeeding Business Day). (b) The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and, in the event an ambiguity or question
of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto by virtue of the authorship of any provision of
this Agreement. 37
Section 8.13 Acknowledgment of Securities Laws. The Investor hereby acknowledges
that it is aware, and that it will advise its Affiliates and Representatives who are provided material non-public information concerning the Company or its securities, that the United States securities laws
prohibit any Person who has received from an issuer material, non-public information from purchasing or selling securities of such issuer or from communication of such information to any other Person under
circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such Person is likely to purchase or sell such securities. [Remainder of page
intentionally left blank] 38
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and
delivered as of the date first above written. /s/ Timothy Baxter /s/ Yehuda Shmidman [Signature Page to Investment Agreement]
ANNEX I FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT [Intentionally Omitted]
ANNEX II FORM OF LICENSE AGREEMENT [Intentionally Omitted]
ANNEX III FORM OF IPCO PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT [Intentionally Omitted]
ANNEX IV FORM OF RESIGNATION LETTER [Intentionally Omitted]
Section
2.02(a)
Recitals
Preamble
Article III
3.02(a)
3.05(a)
3.02(b)
5.04
3.03(b)
5.02(c)
Article III
5.02(c)
5.08(a)
Preamble
5.10(a)
3.07
3.08
2.01
3.08
5.06(a)
2.01
2.01
6.01(a)
7.01(b)
(a)
Attention:
Email:
(b)
Attention:
Email:
EXPRESS, INC.
By:
Name: Timothy Baxter
Title: Chief Executive Officer
WH BORROWER, LLC
By:
Name: Yehuda Shmidman
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 10.2
CERTAIN IDENTIFIED INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS BOTH NOT MATERIAL AND IS THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL. [*****] INDICATES THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN REDACTED OR OMITTED.
MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT
by and among
Express, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company,
Express, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation,
and
WH BORROWER, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company,
dated as of
December 8, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
Article I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS |
2 | |||||
Section 1.01 |
Certain Definitions | 2 | ||||
Article II CONTRIBUTIONS; PURCHASE AND SALE |
11 | |||||
Section 2.01 |
Formation of the Company; Pre-Closing Contributions | 11 | ||||
Section 2.02 |
Purchase and Sale of Purchased Equity | 11 | ||||
Section 2.03 |
Transaction Consideration | 11 | ||||
Section 2.04 |
Allocation of Purchase Price | 12 | ||||
Section 2.05 |
Withholding Tax | 13 | ||||
Article III CLOSING |
13 | |||||
Section 3.01 |
Closing | 13 | ||||
Section 3.02 |
Closing Deliverables | 14 | ||||
Article IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARENT GROUP |
14 | |||||
Section 4.01 |
Organization and Authority of Seller; Enforceability | 14 | ||||
Section 4.02 |
No Conflicts; Consents | 15 | ||||
Section 4.03 |
No Vote Required | 15 | ||||
Section 4.04 |
Intellectual Property; Contributed Assets | 16 | ||||
Section 4.05 |
Assigned Contracts | 17 | ||||
Section 4.06 |
Legal Proceedings | 17 | ||||
Section 4.07 |
Solvency | 17 | ||||
Section 4.08 |
Ownership of Purchased Equity | 18 | ||||
Section 4.09 |
Capitalization of the Company | 18 | ||||
Section 4.10 |
Operations of the Company | 18 | ||||
Section 4.11 |
Brokers | 18 | ||||
Section 4.12 |
Taxes | 18 | ||||
Section 4.13 |
Exclusivity of Representations | 18 | ||||
Article V [RESERVED] |
18 | |||||
Article VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF WHP |
19 | |||||
Section 6.01 |
Organization and Authority of WHP; Enforceability | 19 | ||||
Section 6.02 |
No Conflicts; Consents | 19 | ||||
Section 6.03 |
Brokers | 19 | ||||
Section 6.04 |
Financing | 19 | ||||
Section 6.05 |
Exclusivity of Representations | 20 |
-i-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Article VII COVENANTS |
20 | |||||
Section 7.01 |
Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing | 20 | ||||
Section 7.02 |
Access to Information | 21 | ||||
Section 7.03 |
No Solicitation of Other Bids | 22 | ||||
Section 7.04 |
Notice of Certain Events | 23 | ||||
Section 7.05 |
Private Placement | 23 | ||||
Section 7.06 |
Confidentiality | 23 | ||||
Section 7.07 |
Closing Conditions | 23 | ||||
Section 7.08 |
Public Announcements | 24 | ||||
Section 7.09 |
Taxes | 24 | ||||
Section 7.10 |
Further Assurances | 25 | ||||
Section 7.11 |
Regulatory Compliance | 25 | ||||
Section 7.12 |
R&W Insurance | 26 | ||||
Section 7.13 |
Prepayment of Payoff Credit Facility Indebtedness | 26 | ||||
Section 7.14 |
Debt Financing Cooperation. | 27 | ||||
Section 7.15 |
Management Agreement | 27 | ||||
Section 7.16 |
Formation of Company and Contribution Co | 27 | ||||
Section 7.17 |
IP Contribution | 28 | ||||
Section 7.18 |
WHP Financing Obligations | 29 | ||||
Article VIII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING |
29 | |||||
Section 8.01 |
Conditions to Obligations of All Parties | 30 | ||||
Section 8.02 |
Conditions to Obligations of WHP | 30 | ||||
Section 8.03 |
Conditions to Obligations of the Parent Group | 31 | ||||
Article IX INDEMNIFICATION |
31 | |||||
Section 9.01 |
Indemnification By Seller | 32 | ||||
Section 9.02 |
Indemnification By WHP | 32 | ||||
Section 9.03 |
Indemnification Procedures | 33 | ||||
Section 9.04 |
Survival | 34 | ||||
Section 9.05 |
Limitations on Indemnification | 34 | ||||
Section 9.06 |
Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments | 34 | ||||
Section 9.07 |
Effect of Investigation | 34 | ||||
Section 9.08 |
No Effect on R&W Insurance Policy | 35 |
-ii-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Section 9.09 |
Exclusive Remedies | 35 | ||||
Article X TERMINATION |
35 | |||||
Section 10.01 |
Termination | 35 | ||||
Section 10.02 |
Effect of Termination | 36 | ||||
Article XI MISCELLANEOUS |
37 | |||||
Section 11.01 |
Expenses | 37 | ||||
Section 11.02 |
Notices | 38 | ||||
Section 11.03 |
Construction | 39 | ||||
Section 11.04 |
Severability | 39 | ||||
Section 11.05 |
Entire Agreement | 39 | ||||
Section 11.06 |
Successors and Assigns | 39 | ||||
Section 11.07 |
No Third-Party Beneficiaries | 39 | ||||
Section 11.08 |
Amendment and Modification | 39 | ||||
Section 11.09 |
Waiver | 40 | ||||
Section 11.10 |
Governing Law | 40 | ||||
Section 11.11 |
Submission to Jurisdiction | 40 | ||||
Section 11.12 |
Waiver of Jury Trial | 40 | ||||
Section 11.13 |
Specific Performance | 41 | ||||
Section 11.14 |
Counterparts | 41 |
Exhibits
Exhibit A |
Form of Contribution Agreement | |
Exhibit B |
Form of Operating Agreement | |
Exhibit C |
Form of License Agreement |
-iii-
MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (this Agreement), dated as of December 8, 2022 (Effective Date), is entered into by and among Express, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Parent), Express, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (Seller) and WH Borrower, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (WHP). WHP, Parent and Seller shall be referred to herein, from time to time, collectively, the Parties, and each, a Party.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Parent and WHP desire to enter into a partnership (the Partnership), the purpose of which is to transform Parent from a mono-brand specialty retailer into an omni-channel platform that will develop and grow multiple brands globally together with WHP;
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Parent or a Subsidiary thereof is the owner of the Contributed Assets (as defined herein) and, in furtherance of the establishment of the Partnership, Parent desires to cause the Contributed Assets to be contributed to EXP TOPCO, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company), which, following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will be owned 60% by WHP, or a Subsidiary thereof, and 40% together by Seller and Contribution Co;
WHEREAS, Parent indirectly owns 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests in each of Seller and a Delaware limited liability company to be formed following the date hereof (Contribution Co and, together with Seller, the IP Contributors);
WHEREAS, promptly following the Effective Date, Parent shall cause the IP Contributors to form the Company, which, upon formation, shall be owned 100% by Seller;
WHEREAS, at least two (2) Business Days prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (a) Seller is the owner of 100% of the Contributed Assets, (b) Seller shall contribute the Contributed Assets owned by Seller to the Company in exchange for 100% of the limited liability interests of the Company (the IP Contribution) and (c) immediately thereafter, Seller shall assign, and Contribution Co shall accept, 1% of the issued and outstanding limited liability interests of the Company to Contribution Co in accordance with the Contribution Agreement (the Contribution Agreement), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A;
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, and in furtherance of the establishment of the Partnership, at least two (2) Business Days following the consummation of the IP Contribution, WHP (directly or indirectly through one of its Subsidiaries) desires to purchase from Seller, and Seller desires to sell to WHP (or a Subsidiary thereof), all of Sellers right, title and interest in and to 60% of the Companys total outstanding limited liability company interests (the Purchased Equity) in exchange for the Purchase Price (as defined herein) (the Membership Interests Purchase);
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, and immediately upon consummation of the Membership Interests Purchase, Parent and WHP desire to enter the operating agreement among Seller, Contribution Co, WHP and the Company (the Operating Agreement), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, pursuant to which Seller, will own 39% of the limited liability company interests of the Company, Contribution Co will own 1% of the limited liability company interests of the Company, and a Subsidiary of WHP (the WHP Member) will own 60% of the limited liability company interests of the Company;
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, and immediately upon consummation of the Membership Interests Purchase, the Company will grant to Parent a license to the Contributed Assets pursuant to, and as further set forth in, a license agreement between the Company and Parent (the License Agreement), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C; and
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, Parent and WHP have entered into that certain investment agreement (the Investment Agreement), pursuant to which, among other things, WHP will make a private investment in the common stock of Parent, par value $0.01 per share (Parent Common Stock), in accordance with the terms set forth therein and substantially concurrently with the consummation of the Membership Interests Purchase (the PIPE Investment).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
Article I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth or as referenced below:
Accountant shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
Acquisition Proposal shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.03.
Action shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.06.
Affiliate means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person; provided, however, (i) that the Parent and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of WHP or any of its Affiliates and (ii) portfolio companies (as such term is customarily used in the private equity industry) in which any Person or any of its Affiliates has an investment shall not be deemed an Affiliate of such Person so long as such portfolio company (x) has not been directed by WHP or any of its Affiliates or any Investor Director (as such term is defined in the Investment Agreement) in carrying out any act prohibited by this Agreement, (y) is not a member of a group (as such term is defined in Sections 13(d)(3) and 13(g)(3) of the Exchange Act) with either WHP or any of its Affiliates with respect to any securities of Parent, and (z) has not received from WHP or any Affiliate of WHP or any Investor Director, directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information (as such term is defined in the Confidentiality Agreement). For this purpose, control (including, with its correlative meanings, controlled by and under common control with) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise and, in any event, without limitation of the previous sentence, any Person owning more than 50% or more of the voting securities of another Person shall be deemed to control that Person.
Any Person shall be deemed to beneficially own, to have beneficial ownership of, or to be beneficially owning any securities (which securities shall also be deemed beneficially owned by such Person) that such Person is deemed to beneficially own within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act; provided that any Person shall be deemed to beneficially own any securities that such Person has the right to acquire, whether or not such right is exercisable immediately.
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
2
Alternative Debt Commitment Letter shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.18(d).
Alternative Financing shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.18(d).
Ancillary Documents means the Operating Agreement, the License Agreement, the Management Agreement and the Contribution Agreement.
Assigned Contracts shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.05.
Business Days means a day (a) other than Saturday or Sunday and (b) on which commercial banks are open for business in New York, New York.
Claim shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a).
Claim Notice shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a).
Closing shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.01.
Closing Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.01.
Confidentiality Agreement means the Confidentiality Agreement between Parent and WHP, dated as of August 24, 2022.
Contract means any written or oral legally binding contract, agreement, instrument, commitment or undertaking of any nature (including leases, licenses, mortgages, notes, guarantees, sublicenses and subcontracts), including all amendments, supplements, exhibits and schedules thereto.
Contributed Assets means the assets contributed to the Company pursuant to the Contribution Agreement.
COVID-19 means SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and any evolutions thereof or related or associate epidemics, pandemic or disease outbreaks.
COVID-19 Measures means any quarantine, shelter in place, stay at home, workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester or any other Law, mandate, directive, guidelines or recommendations by any Governmental Authority in connection with or in response to COVID-19.
Debt Commitment Letter means that certain Commitment Letter, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Debt Financing Sources and WHP, including the exhibits, schedules, annexes and amendments to such Debt Commitment Letter, as may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time to the extent not prohibited by this Agreement.
Debt Financing means the debt financing contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter.
Debt Financing Sources means the financial institutions that have committed to provide, or otherwise entered into agreements in connection with the Debt Financing (including any Alternative Financing) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including BlackRock Capital Investment Advisors, LLC pursuant to the Debt Commitment Letter, together with their Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and representatives and their respective successors and assigns.
3
Definitive Agreements shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.18(a).
Disclosure Schedules shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.
DOJ shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.11
Effective Date shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Encumbrance shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Federal Securities Laws means the Exchange Act, the Securities Act and the other U.S. federal securities Laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Fraud means actual (and not constructive, including claims based on recklessness) common Law fraud under Delaware Law with respect to the making of an express representation or warranty contained in this Agreement.
FTC shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.11.
Fundamental Representations shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.
GAAP means United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect for the applicable period or date.
Governmental Authority means any government, court, regulatory or administrative agency, arbitrator (public or private), commission or authority or other legislative, executive or judicial governmental entity (in each case including any self-regulatory organization), whether federal, state or local, domestic, foreign or multinational.
HSR Act means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
HSR Form shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.11
Indemnification Cap means $235,000,000.
Indemnified Party shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a).
Indemnifying Party shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a).
Indemnified Taxes means (i) all Taxes (or the non-payment thereof) of the Company (including any predecessor thereto), or Taxes for which the Company (or any of its predecessors) is liable, for any Pre-Closing Tax Period, including any imputed underpayment within the meaning of Code Section 6225 (or any similar provision of state, local, or non U.S. law) imposed on the Company (or any of its predecessors) that is attributable to a Pre-Closing Tax Period, (ii) any and all Taxes of any Person (other than the Company) imposed on the Company (or any predecessor thereto) as a transferee or successor, by contract (other than a contract entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which is not Taxes) or pursuant to any law, rule, or regulation, which Taxes relate to an event or transaction occurring before the Closing, (iii) any and all Taxes resulting from a breach of the representations in Section 4.12 or a breach of the covenants and agreements contained in Section 7.09, and (iv) any costs or expenses relating to an audit, contest or proceeding related to any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii).
4
Insolvent shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.07.
Intellectual Property means any and all of the following in any jurisdiction throughout the world: (a) registered and unregistered trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress, corporate names, logos, packaging design, slogans, Internet domain names, rights to social media accounts, and other indicia of source, origin or quality, including all applications and registrations and the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by the foregoing (collectively, Marks); (b) copyrights in both published and unpublished works (including all compilations, databases and computer programs, manuals and other documentation and all derivatives, translations, adaptations and combinations of the above), mask work rights, including all applications and registrations related to the foregoing (Copyrights); (c) rights under applicable trade secret Law in trade secrets and other confidential or proprietary information (including know-how, inventions and invention disclosures (whether or not patented or patentable and whether or not reduced to practice), ideas, research in progress, process technology, software development methodologies, algorithms, technical information, proprietary business information, customer and supplier lists, customer and supplier records, pricing and cost information, reports, plans, drawings, blue prints, data, databases, data collections, designs, processes, formulae, schematics, flow charts, models, strategies, prototypes, techniques, source code, source code documentation, testing procedures, testing results and business, financial, sales and marketing plans) (collectively, Trade Secrets); (d) patents, patent applications of any kind and patent rights (collectively, Patents); (e) websites; (f) other intellectual property and related proprietary rights, interests and protections recognized by Law, including rights of publicity and privacy (including all rights to sue and recover and retain damages, costs and attorneys fees for past, present and future infringement and any other rights relating to any of the foregoing); and (g) goodwill and claims of infringement and misappropriation of any and all of the forgoing against third parties.
Intended Tax Treatment shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.09(e).
Investment Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Judgment means an order, judgment, injunction, ruling, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority.
Knowledge whether or not capitalized, or any similar expression used with respect to Seller, means the actual knowledge of those individuals listed on Section 1.1 of the Disclosure Schedule.
Law means all state or federal laws, common law, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules or regulations.
Liabilities means any and all debts, liabilities, costs, guarantees, commitments, assessments, expenses, claims, losses, damages, deficiencies and obligations, whether accrued or fixed, accrued or not accrued, due or to become due, direct or indirect, whenever or however arising (including whether arising out of any contract, common law or tort based on negligence or strict liability).
License Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Licenses Out shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(a).
5
Losses means any awards, fines, fees, suits, actions, causes of action, judgments, Taxes and awards directly incurred or suffered (and, if applicable, reasonable consultants and attorneys fees associated therewith) including any such fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating, defending against or settling any of the foregoing and the reasonable costs and expenses of enforcing the indemnification rights of the Indemnified Party hereunder.
Management Agreement means that certain management agreement by and between Seller and an affiliate of WHP to be dated as of the Closing Date, which is to be negotiated in good faith by the parties before the Closing Date.
Material Adverse Effect means any change, event, effect, occurrence, development or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, has had a material adverse effect on (i) the Contributed Assets or (ii) the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that, none of the following, and no changes, events, effects or circumstances arising out of, relating to or resulting from the following (in each case, by itself or when aggregated) either alone or in combination, will be deemed to be or constitute a Material Adverse Effect or will be taken into account when determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would be reasonably expected to occur (subject to the limitations set forth below):
(i) | changes in general economic conditions, or changes in conditions in the global, international or regional economy generally; |
(ii) | changes in conditions in the financial markets, credit markets or capital markets, including (A) changes in interest rates or credit ratings; (B) changes in monetary policy or exchange rates for the currencies of any country; (C) inflation; or (D) or (D) any suspension of trading in securities (whether equity, debt, derivative or hybrid securities) generally on any securities exchange or over-the-counter market; |
(iii) | changes in conditions in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business (including supply chain delays and increases in raw material prices); |
(iv) | changes in regulatory, legislative or political conditions (including civil unrest, protests and public demonstrations (in each case, whether or not violent), any government responses thereto (e.g., curfews) and any escalation or worsening thereof); |
(v) | any geopolitical conditions, outbreak of hostilities, acts of war (whether or not declared), sabotage, cyber-attack (including by means of cyber-intrusion or other cyber-security breach), terrorism or military actions (including any escalation or general worsening of, or any Law or sanction, mandate, directive, pronouncement, guideline or recommendation issued by a Governmental Authority in response to, any such hostilities, acts of war, sabotage, cyberterrorism, terrorism or military actions); |
(vi) | earthquakes, volcanic activity, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, wild fires or other natural disasters, weather conditions and other natural or man-made force majeure events; |
(vii) | any (A) epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 pandemic), human health crises or other force majeure events, in each case, including any worsening thereof, or (B) Law or mandate, directive, pronouncement, guideline or recommendation issued by a Governmental |
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Authority, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization or industry group providing for business closures, sheltering-in-place, curfews or other restrictions that relate to, or arise out of, an epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 pandemic) or any change in such Law or directive, pronouncement or guideline or interpretation thereof or any material worsening of such conditions (including any COVID-19 Measures); |
(viii) | the negotiation, execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the announcement of this Agreement or the pendency of the Transactions, including the impact thereof on the relationships, contractual or otherwise, of the Company and its Subsidiaries with customers, suppliers, lenders, lessors, business partners, employees, regulators, Governmental Authorities, or any other Person; |
(ix) | the compliance by any Party with the terms of this Agreement, including any action taken or refrained from being taken pursuant to or in accordance with this Agreement; |
(x) | any action taken or refrained from being taken, in each case to which the Investor has expressly approved, consented to or requested in writing following the date of this Agreement; |
(xi) | changes or proposed changes in GAAP or other accounting standards or in any applicable Laws (or the enforcement, implementation or interpretation of any of the foregoing); |
(xii) | changes in the price or trading volume of the Parents Common Stock, in and of itself (it being understood that the underlying cause of such change may be taken into consideration when determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, unless otherwise contemplated by the exceptions to this definition); |
(xiii) | any failure, in and of itself, by the Company and its Subsidiaries to meet (A) any internal or public estimates or expectations of the Companys revenue, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations for any period; or (B) any budgets, plans, projections or forecasts of its revenues, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations (it being understood that the underlying cause of any such failure described in the foregoing clauses (A) or (B) may be taken into consideration when determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, unless otherwise contemplated by the exceptions to this definition); |
(xiv) | the availability or cost of equity, debt or other financing to the Investor; |
(xv) | any government shutdown or slowdown; |
(xvi) | any Action commenced or threatened against a party hereto or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (or their respective directors, members, managers, partners or officers) or otherwise relating to, involving or affecting such party or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, in each case in connection with, arising from or otherwise relating to the Transactions, other than any Action that is (A) solely among all or some of the parties hereto and (B) related to this Agreement; |
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(xvii) | the identity of, or any facts or circumstances relating to, the Investor or its Affiliates, the respective financing sources of or investors in the foregoing; and |
(xviii) | any breach by the Investor of this Agreement; |
except, in each case of clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (xi) and (xv) (excluding any change, event, effect or circumstance arising from or related to COVID-19 or COVID-19 Measures), to the extent (and only to the extent) that such change, event, effect or circumstance has had a disproportionate adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries relative to other similarly situated companies operating in the same industries (and conducting operations in the same geographic locations) in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, in which case only the incremental disproportionate adverse impact may be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred.
Membership Interests Purchase Transactions means the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Contribution Agreement.
MGF Security Agreement means Guaranty and Security Agreement, dated as of January 13, 2021, made by Parent, Express Topco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Express Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Express, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, the other Guarantors (as defined therein) party thereto, to MGF Sourcing US, LLC, as collateral agent for its own benefit and for the benefit of the other Secured Parties (as defined therein).
Operating Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Outside Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.01(c).
Parent shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Parent Common Stock shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Parent Credit Facility means that certain (a) Second Amended and Restated Asset-Based Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of May 20, 2015 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the ABL Credit Agreement), by and among Express Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Parent), Seller, Express Topco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Intermediate Holdings), Express, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Borrower), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) party thereto (the Subsidiary Guarantors, together with the Parent, Holdings, Intermediate Holdings and the Borrower, the Companies), the Lenders (as defined therein) party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (Wells Fargo) as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (each as defined therein), (b) Asset-Based Term Loan Agreement, dated as of January 13, 2021 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the FILO Credit Agreement, together with the ABL Credit Agreement, the Existing Credit Facilities), by and among the Companies, the Lenders (as defined therein) party thereto, and Wells Fargo, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (each as defined therein) and (c) any other credit agreement, indenture, notes or other instrument, that replaces or refinances the Existing Credit Facilities.
Parent Group means Parent, Seller and, when formed and prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Company.
Parent-Related Developments shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(b)(vii).
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Parties, or Party shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Partnership shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Permitted Encumbrances means, with respect to any Person, any of the following: (a) liens for Taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies either (i) not yet delinquent or (ii) that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in the financial statements in accordance with GAAP; (b) mechanics, carriers, workmens, warehousemans, repairmens, materialmens or other liens or security interests arising or occurring in the ordinary course of business, that are not yet due or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in the financial statements in accordance with GAAP; (c) any non-exclusive license or covenant not to sue granted with respect to any Intellectual Property rights; (d) statutory, common Law or contractual liens, or other encumbrances of record securing payments not yet due; (e) Encumbrances created by this Agreement; and (f) other imperfections of title or Encumbrances, if any, that are not material to the Contributed Assets.
Person means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity, including a Governmental Authority.
PIPE Investment shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Pre-Closing Tax Period means any taxable period (or portion thereof) that ends on or before the Closing Date and the portion through the end of the Closing Date of any Straddle Period.
Purchase Price shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.06.
R&W Insurance Policy means a representation and warranty liability insurance policy obtained by WHP or one of its Affiliates on terms and conditions satisfactory to WHP.
Representatives means, with respect to a Person, such Persons Affiliates and its and such Affiliates respective directors (or equivalent), officers, managers, employees, members, investment bankers, consultants, and legal, financial, internal and independent accounting and other advisors and representatives.
SEC means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Seller shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Seller Indemnitees shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(a).
Seller Member shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Straddle Period means any taxable period that includes (but does not end on) the Closing Date.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust or other entity of which (x) securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the ordinary voting power (or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests) or (y) sufficient voting rights to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body are, as of such date, owned by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
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Tax or Taxes means any and all United States federal, state, local or non-United States taxes, fees, levies, duties, tariffs, imposts, and other similar charges (together with any and all interest, penalties and additions to tax, whether disputed or not) imposed by any Governmental Authority, including taxes or other charges on or with respect to income, imputed underpayments, franchises, windfall or other profits, gross receipts, property, sales, use, capital stock, payroll, employment, social security, workers compensation, unemployment compensation or net worth; taxes or other charges in the nature of excise, withholding, ad valorem, stamp, transfer, value added or gains taxes; license, registration and documentation fees.
Tax Allocation Schedule shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04.
Tax Claims means any Claim arising from (a) a breach of the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.12, (b) the obligations set forth in Section 9.01(a)(ii) or (c) other Losses in respect of Taxes.
Tax Returns means returns, reports, claims for refund, declarations of estimated Taxes and information statements, including any schedule or attachment thereto or any amendment thereof, with respect to Taxes filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Authority, including consolidated, combined and unitary tax returns.
Third Party means any Person other than WHP and Parent and each of their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates.
Third-Party IP shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(b)(iv).
Transactions means the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Investment Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Membership Interests Purchase and the PIPE Investment.
Transfer Taxes shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.09.
WHP shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
WHP Indemnitees shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.01(a).
WHP Material Adverse Effect means any effect, change, event or occurrence that would prevent or materially delay, interfere with, hinder or impair (i) the consummation by WHP of any of the Transactions on a timely basis or (ii) the compliance by WHP with its obligations under this Agreement.
WHP Member shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
WHP Revolver shall mean the Revolving Credit Facility with commitments of $50,000,000 under and as defined in that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2022, by and among WH Intermediate, LLC, WHP, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent and collateral agent and the L/C issuers and lenders from time to time party thereto, as in effect on the date hereof.
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Willful Breach means a material breach of this Agreement that is the consequence of an act or omission by a Party with the actual knowledge that the taking of such act or failure to take such action would be a breach of this Agreement.
Article II CONTRIBUTIONS; PURCHASE AND SALE
Section 2.01 Formation of the Company; Pre-Closing Contributions.
(a) | Promptly following the date hereof, Parent shall cause Seller and Contribution Co to form the Company as a Delaware limited liability company. At formation, Seller shall be the owner of 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of the Company. |
(b) | Prior to the Closing, Seller owns the Contributed Assets set forth on Exhibit A to the Contribution Agreement. |
(c) | At least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing, Seller shall, and shall cause its applicable Subsidiaries to, consummate the IP Contribution in accordance with, and subject to, the terms and conditions of the Contribution Agreement, such that following the consummation of the IP Contribution, all right, title and interest in and to the Contributed Assets owned by Seller as of the date hereof shall have been assigned, transferred and conveyed to the Company. |
(d) | Immediately thereafter, Seller shall assign, and Contribution Co shall accept, 1% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of the Company to Contribution Co. |
Section 2.02 Purchase and Sale of Purchased Equity. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Seller shall sell, transfer, convey and deliver to WHP, and WHP shall purchase, acquire and accept from Seller, all of Sellers right, title and interest to the Purchased Equity, free and clear of any charge, claim, community property interest, pledge, condition, equitable interest, lien (statutory or other), option, security interest, mortgage, easement, encroachment, right of way, right of first refusal, or restriction of any kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of ownership (each, an Encumbrance), other than Permitted Encumbrances.
Section 2.03 Transaction Consideration. In consideration of the consummation of the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions, including the sale, conveyance, transfer and delivery of the Purchased Equity by Seller to WHP on the terms set forth in this Agreement, WHP shall pay (or cause to be paid) to Seller (or to Parent, on behalf of Seller) the aggregate purchase price for the Purchased Equity of $235,000,000 (the Purchase Price) at the Closing (as defined below) in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the wire transfer instructions to be provided by Parent to WHP at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date. Following the Closing, the WHP Member shall hold 60% of the outstanding limited liability company interests of the Company, Seller shall hold 39% of the outstanding limited liability company interests of the Company and Contribution Co shall own 1% of the outstanding limited liability company interests of the Company.
Section 2.04 Allocation of Purchase Price. Parent shall prepare and deliver to WHP a schedule allocating the Purchase Price (plus other relevant items) among the assets of the Company for all tax purposes in accordance with an allocation schedule consistent with Section 755 of the Code, including sufficient detail to permit the Parties to make the computations and adjustments required under Sections 734(b), 743(b), and 751 and 752 of the Code, (the Tax Allocation Schedule) within 120 days following the Closing Date (as defined below).
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(a) | If within sixty (60) days following receipt of the Tax Allocation Schedule, WHP notifies Parent in writing that such person disputes any item set forth in the Tax Allocation Statement and the parties are unable to resolve such disputed item within thirty (30) days or such other mutually agreed upon period, the Parties shall refer the disputed item to a nationally recognized independent accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Company, Parent, WHP and Seller, or, if such firm is unable or unwilling to act or if such firm has been engaged by any of the parties from or after the date hereof and is thus no longer independent, another nationally recognized independent accounting firm reasonably acceptable to WHP (the Accountant), which, acting as an expert and not an arbitrator, shall as promptly as reasonably practicable resolve such disputed item in accordance with the procedural principles set forth in this Section 2.04. The Tax Allocation Schedule, as mutually agreed upon or otherwise determined by the Accountant, shall be final and binding upon the Company, Parent, WHP and Seller. |
(b) | WHP shall be entitled to submit (with a copy to the other party) to the Accountant such documents and materials and to make such presentations and arguments as such party shall deem necessary or appropriate; provided that the parties agree that neither party shall have any ex parte communications with the Accountant. The Accountant (i) shall consider only disputes with respect to the Tax Allocation Schedule, (ii) shall be bound by the terms of this Agreement and (iii) shall only consider the documents, materials, presentations and arguments made by WHP (i.e., shall not engage in any independent review). The Accountant shall deliver to the Company, Parent, WHP and Seller, as promptly as practicable, a written report setting forth its resolution of the disputed matter. Such report shall be final and binding upon, and non-appealable by, the parties. |
(c) | The costs and expenses of the Accountant shall be allocated between WHP, on the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand, in the same proportion that the aggregate amount of the disputed items submitted to the Accountant that is unsuccessfully disputed by each such party (as finally determined by the Accountant) bears to the total amount of such disputed items so submitted. |
(d) | The Company, WHP, Parent and Seller, including each Partys Subsidiaries and Affiliates, shall file all Tax Returns in a manner consistent with the Tax Allocation Schedule, unless otherwise required pursuant to a determination as defined in Section 1313 of the Code. The Parties agree to promptly advise each other regarding the existence of any Tax audit or administrative or judicial Tax proceeding related to the Tax Allocation Schedule. |
Section 2.05 Withholding Tax. WHP shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Purchase Price all Taxes that each of WHP may be required to deduct and withhold under any applicable Tax Law. All such withheld amounts shall be treated as delivered to Seller or Parent, as applicable, hereunder. In the event WHP determines that it is required to deduct and withhold from any amounts payable to Seller or Parent, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement (other than any withholding arising from the failure of Seller or Parent to deliver an IRS Form W-9), WHP shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide Seller or Parent, as applicable, with advance written notice describing the amount of and basis for such deduction and withholding prior to the Closing Date and shall reasonably cooperate in good faith with Seller or Parent, as applicable, to establish any reduction or exemption from such deduction or withholding permitted under applicable Law.
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Article III CLOSING
Section 3.01 Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the consummation of the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions (the Closing) shall take place remotely by exchange of documents and signatures (or their electronic counterparts), (a) as promptly as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than the fifth Business Day after all of the conditions to Closing set forth in ARTICLE VIII are either satisfied or, if permitted by applicable Law, waived (other than conditions which, by their nature, are to be satisfied at the Closing), or (b) at such other time, date or place as Seller and WHP may mutually agree upon in writing. The date on which the Closing is to occur is herein referred to as the Closing Date; provided, however, that in no event shall the Closing occur prior to the date that is two Business Days after the consummation of the IP Contribution.
Section 3.02 Closing Deliverables.
(a) | At least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing, Parent and Seller shall deliver to WHP (i) evidence of formation of the Company and (ii) the Contribution Agreement, duly executed and delivered by each of Seller, Contribution Co and the Company. |
(b) | At the Closing, Parent shall deliver or cause to be delivered to WHP the following: |
(i) | each applicable Ancillary Document duly executed by the applicable member of the Parent Group; provided, that delivery of the Management Agreement shall not be a condition to Closing; and |
(ii) | the Payoff Letter; |
(iii) | a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Parent certifying as to (A) the resolutions of the board of directors of Seller, duly adopted and in effect, which authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the applicable Ancillary Documents and the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions; and (B) the names and signatures of the officers of Parent authorized to sign this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to be delivered hereunder. |
(c) | At the Closing, Seller shall deliver or cause to be delivered to WHP the following: |
(i) | the Purchased Equity; |
(ii) | a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Seller certifying as to (A) the resolutions of the board of managers of Seller, duly adopted and in effect, which authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions; and (B) the names and signatures of the officers of WHP authorized to sign this Agreement; and |
(iii) | a properly completed Internal Revenue Service form W-9. |
(d) | At the Closing, WHP shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Seller the following: |
(i) | the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by Seller to WHP; |
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(ii) | each applicable Ancillary Document duly executed by WHP; provided, that delivery of the Management Agreement shall not be a condition to Closing; |
(iii) | a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary (or equivalent officer) of WHP certifying as to (A) the resolutions of the board of directors of WHP, duly adopted and in effect, which authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions; and (B) the names and signatures of the officers of WHP authorized to sign this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to be delivered hereunder; and |
(iv) | a properly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9. |
Article IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARENT GROUP
Except as (a) set forth in the Disclosure Schedules (it being acknowledged and agreed that any disclosure or exception set forth in any Section of subsection of the Disclosure Schedules shall be deemed to apply to any other Section or subsection of the Disclosure Schedules to the extent that the qualification of such disclosure or exception to such other Section or subsection is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure) or (b) disclosed in any report, schedule, form, statement or other document (including exhibits) filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and publicly available prior to the date hereof (the Filed SEC Documents), other than any risk factor disclosures in any such Filed SEC Document contained in the Risk Factors section thereof or any forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act thereof, each of Parent and Seller represents and warrants to WHP that the statements contained in this ARTICLE IV are true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (except as otherwise specified).
Section 4.01 Organization and Authority of Seller; Enforceability. Each member of the Parent Group is duly organized or formed, as applicable, validly existing and in good standing (or the equivalent thereof, if applicable, in each case, with respect to the jurisdictions that recognize the concept of good standing or any equivalent thereof) under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization, as applicable. Each of Parent and Seller has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party to be delivered hereunder, to carry out its obligations hereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The execution, delivery and performance by each member of the Parent Group of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to be delivered hereunder to which such member of the Parent Group is a party and the consummation of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the applicable member of the Parent Group. This Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to be delivered hereunder to which a member of the Parent Group is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such member of the Parent Group, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by WHP), this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to be delivered hereunder to which such member of the Parent Group is a party constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of such member of the Parent Group, enforceable against such member of the Parent Group in accordance with their respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors rights and remedies generally, and subject to general principles of equity applied in connection with any enforcement brought in a proceeding at law or in equity (the Bankruptcy and Equity Exceptions).
Section 4.02 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Parent and Seller of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to be delivered hereunder to which Parent or Seller is a party, and the consummation of the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions, do not and will not: (a) violate or conflict with the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of Parent or Seller, as applicable; (b) violate or conflict with any judgment, award, order, decree, statute, Law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to
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Parent or Seller; or (c) conflict with, or result in (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) any violation of, or default under, or give rise to a right of termination, acceleration or modification of any obligation or loss of any benefit under any Contract or other instrument to which Parent or Seller is a party or to which any of the Contributed Assets are subject; or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance on the Contributed Assets, except, in each case of the foregoing clauses (b) through (d), as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no consent, approval, waiver or authorization is required to be obtained by Parent or Seller from any Person (including any Governmental Authority) in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by Parent of this Agreement and the consummation of the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions, except for any required filings or approvals pursuant to the HSR Act.
Section 4.03 No Vote Required. No vote or consent of Parents shareholders is required to authorize this Agreement, any Ancillary Document or consummation of any Transaction.
Section 4.04 Intellectual Property; Contributed Assets.
(a) | Section 4.04(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a complete and accurate list of all (a) registered and material unregistered Marks included in the Contributed Assets that are owned or purported to be owned by, filed in, issued under the name of or used or held for use by Parent (or a Subsidiary thereof, including Seller and the Company) in the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, including, to the extent applicable, the date of filing, issuance or registration, the filing, issuance or registration number and the name of the body where the filing, issuance or registration was made, and (b) licenses, sublicenses or other agreements under which Parent has granted rights to others in the Contributed Assets outside of the United States (including any of its territories and possessions and U.S. military bases anywhere in the world) (Licenses Out), other than (i) confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, (ii) non-exclusive licenses granted in the ordinary course of business, (iii) agreements under which the licenses to Contributed Assets granted in such agreement are (A) merely incidental to the transaction contemplated, (B) limited to non-commercial uses or (C) limited to identifying the parties relationship, including identifying Seller as a client, partner, or sponsor of another party. In the case of any licenses, sublicenses or other agreements disclosed pursuant to the foregoing clause (b), Section 4.04(a) of the Disclosure Schedules also sets forth whether each such license, sublicense or other agreement is exclusive or non-exclusive. |
(b) | Except as set forth on Section 4.04(b) of the Disclosure Schedules: |
(i) | as of the date hereof, the Parent Group exclusively owns, and until the consummation of the IP Contribution, Parent Group shall exclusively own, all right, title and interest in the Contributed Assets that it purports to own and possesses adequate and enforceable rights to use, without payment to a Third Party, all of the Contributed Assets necessary for the operation of the business of the Parent Group and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, charges, liens, equities, security interests, or other similar encumbrances, except for Permitted Encumbrances or any of the foregoing being released or terminated prior to the Closing; |
(ii) | the Contributed Assets owned or purported to be owned by the Parent Group as of the date hereof that have been the subject of an application filed with, are issued by, or registered with, as applicable, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Copyright Office or any similar office or agency anywhere in the world are (A) registered in the name of Parent (or a Subsidiary thereof, including the IP Contributors and the Company); and (B) have been duly maintained (including the payment of maintenance fees) and are not expired, cancelled or abandoned. The Contributed Assets owned or purported to be owned by or exclusively licensed to Parent or one of its Subsidiaries is valid and enforceable; |
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(iii) | there are no pending or, to the knowledge of Parent Group, threatened claims against Parent Group alleging that (A) Parent Groups use of the Contributed Assets in any of the operation of the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted or in any activity currently conducted by Parent and its Subsidiaries (x) infringes or violates (or in the past two years prior to the date of this Agreement has infringed or violated) the rights of others in or to any Intellectual Property (Third-Party IP) or (y) constitutes a misappropriation of (or in the past two years prior to the date of this Agreement has constituted a misappropriation of) any subject matter of any Third-Party IP, or (B) any of the Contributed Assets is invalid or unenforceable; |
(iv) | neither Parent Groups use of the Contributed Assets in the operation of the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, nor in any activity currently conducted by Parent or any member of the Parent Group, (A) infringes or violates (or in the past infringed or violated) any Third-Party IP or (B) constitutes a misappropriation of (or in the past constituted a misappropriation of) any subject matter of any Third-Party IP; |
(v) | no member of the Parent Group has any obligation to compensate any person for the use of any of the Contributed Assets; there are no settlements, litigations, covenants not to sue, consents, judgments, or orders or similar dispute-related obligations binding on any member of the Parent Group that: (A) restrict the applicable member of the Parent Groups rights to use any of the Contributed Assets, (B) restrict the use of the Contributed Assets in the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, in order to accommodate a Third Partys Intellectual Property, or (C) permit third parties to use the Contributed Assets; |
(vi) | all former and current employees, consultants and contractors of Parent Group who have created or developed while employed or engaged by Parent any Contributed Assets (Parent-Related Developments) have executed written instruments with Parent or one of its Subsidiaries that assign to Parent or the applicable Subsidiary all rights, title and interest (including all Intellectual Property) in and to all Parent-Related Developments, except where ownership of the Parent-Related Developments vested in Parent or a Subsidiary thereof by operation of law; and |
(vii) | to the knowledge of Parent Group, (A) there are no, nor in the past two years prior to the date of this Agreement has there been any, infringement or violation by any person or entity of any of the Contributed Assets or the Parent Groups rights therein or thereto and (B) there are no, nor in the past two years prior to the date of this Agreement has there been any, misappropriation by any person or entity of any of the Contributed Assets. |
Section 4.05 Assigned Contracts. Section 4.05 of the Disclosure Schedules includes each Contract included in the Contributed Assets that will be assigned to and assumed by the Company effective as of the closing of the IP Contribution (the Assigned Contracts). Except as has not been and would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Parent Group or the Contributed Assets taken as a whole, (a) each Assigned Contract is valid and binding on Parent or its applicable Subsidiary in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exceptions, (b) neither any
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member of the Parent Group or, to Parents knowledge, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of any intention to terminate, any Assigned Contract and (c) no event or circumstance has occurred that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default under any Assigned Contract or result in a termination thereof or would cause or permit the acceleration or other changes of any right or obligation or the loss of benefit thereunder. Complete and correct copies of each Assigned Contract have been made available to WHP. Except as has not been and would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Parent Group or the Contributed Assets taken as a whole, there are no disputes pending or threatened under any Assigned Contract.
Section 4.06 Legal Proceedings. Except as has not been and would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Parent Group or the Contributed Assets taken as a whole, there is no claim, action, suit, proceeding or governmental investigation (Action) of any nature pending or, to Parents knowledge, threatened against or by any member of the Parent Group or any of their respective directors, officers or employees (in their capacities as such or relating to their employment, services or relationship with Parent), that challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions.
Section 4.07 Solvency. Each of Parent and Seller is not entering into this Agreement or consummating the Transactions with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of Parent. Parent is Solvent as of the date of this Agreement, and, assuming the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.02 and assuming the truth and accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Article V, Parent will, after giving effect to the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions, be Solvent. For purposes of this Agreement, Solvent means (a) the present fair saleable value of the assets of Parent or Seller, as applicable, is no less than the total amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of Parent, or Seller, as applicable, on its debts as they become absolute and matured, including contingent liabilities (such liabilities computed at the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability), (b) Parent, or Seller, as applicable, does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond its ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature and (c) Parent, or Seller, as applicable, does not have unreasonably small capital for the operation of the businesses in which it is engaged. As of the date hereof, neither Parent nor Seller has caused, nor has any intention to cause, (i) a general assignment of all or substantially all of its assets for the benefit of creditors, (ii) the appointment or a custodian, receiver, trustee or other third party or fiduciary of all or substantially all of its assets, (iii) to be filed or commenced or, to have had filed or commenced against it, any petition for bankruptcy, receivership, dissolution, liquidation, wind-down, or similar filing or commencement of a similar action; (iv) except for the Transactions, a merger, consolidation, reorganization, restructuring, recapitalization, composition, liquidation or other arrangement with its creditors; or (v) taken any action in furtherance of any of the foregoing.
Section 4.08 Ownership of Purchased Equity . Effective as of the Closing of the IP Contribution, Seller is the sole beneficial and record owner of, and has good and marketable title to, all of the Purchased Equity, free and clear of any Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances and Encumbrances that will be released or terminated as of the Closing Date). Except for this Agreement and the IP Contribution Agreement, as of the Closing, neither Seller nor the Company has granted any interests or rights to any other Person with respect to any equity interests in the Company or (including, without limitation, any rights of first refusal, rights of first offer or pre-emptive rights), and there are no Contracts obligating Seller or the Company to grant any such interest or rights to any other Person. As of immediately prior to the Closing, the Purchased Equity has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable.
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Section 4.09 Capitalization of the Company. As of immediately following the IP Contribution and as of the Closing, (i) the Purchased Equity constitutes 60% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in the Company and (ii) Seller is the holder of 39%, and Contribution Co is the holder of 1%, of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in the Company. Other than the Purchased Equity and such limited liability company interests held by Seller and Contribution Co, as of immediately following the IP Contribution and as of the Closing, there are no other issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in the Company.
Section 4.10 Operations of the Company. Between the date of its formation and the Closing, other than, following the consummation of the IP Contribution, (a) owning the Contributed Assets and (b) its rights and obligations under the IP Contribution Agreement, the Company has not engaged in any activities (other than in connection with the IP Contribution Agreement) and has not incurred any liabilities other than liabilities incidental to its formation.
Section 4.11 Brokers. Other than Moelis & Company, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finders or other fee or commission in connection with the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions made by or on behalf of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 4.12 Taxes. The Company has timely filed all income and other material Tax Returns that it is required to file under applicable Law, and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects. All material Taxes due and payable by the Company, whether or not shown or required to be shown on any Tax Return, have been timely paid to the appropriate Governmental Authority. There are no liens for material Taxes upon any of the assets of the Company, other than for Taxes not yet due and payable or that may thereafter be paid without penalty. There have been no examinations or audits of any Tax Returns and there are no ongoing or pending Tax audits by any taxing authority against the Company. The Company is, and has been since the date of its formation, classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Section 4.13 Exclusivity of Representations. The representations and warranties made by the Parent Group in this ARTICLE IV, the Ancillary Documents to which Parent or a member of the Parent Group is a party and in any certificate required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents by any member of the Parent Group are the exclusive representations and warranties made by Parent, its Subsidiaries or any of its Representatives with respect to Parent and its Subsidiaries (including the members of the Parent Group), including the Contributed Assets. WHP hereby disclaims any other express or implied representations or warranties with respect to any Member of the Parent Group, their respective Affiliates and Representatives, including the Contributed Assets. It is understood that any other materials made available to WHP and its Affiliates and Representatives (including any financial projection, forecast, estimate or budget of future results or future financial condition relating to the Parent Group or the Contributed Assets and any oral or written information presented to WHP or any of its Affiliates or Representatives in the course of their due diligence investigation of the Parent Group or the Contributed Assets, the negotiation of this Agreement or in the course of the transactions contemplated hereby) do not, directly or indirectly, and shall not be deemed to, directly or indirectly, contain representations or warranties of the Parent Group.
Article V [RESERVED]
Article VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF WHP
WHP represents and warrants to Parent and Seller that the statements contained in this Article VI are true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (except as otherwise specified).
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Section 6.01 Organization and Authority of WHP; Enforceability. WHP is duly organized or formed, as applicable, validly existing and in good standing (or the equivalent thereof, if applicable, in each case, with respect to the jurisdictions that recognize the concept of good standing or any equivalent thereof) under the Laws of the jurisdictions of incorporation, formation or organization, as applicable. WHP has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to be delivered hereunder, to carry out its obligations hereunder and to consummate the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions. The execution, delivery and performance by WHP of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to be delivered hereunder and the consummation of the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of WHP. This Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to be delivered hereunder have been duly executed and delivered by WHP, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Seller and Parent) this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to be delivered hereunder constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of WHP enforceable against WHP in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exceptions.
Section 6.02 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by WHP of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to be delivered hereunder, and the consummation of the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions, do not and will not: (a) violate or conflict with the certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of WHP; or (b) violate or conflict with any judgment, award, order, decree, statute, Law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to WHP, except, in the case of clause (b), as has not had and would not reasonably expected to have a WHP Material Adverse Effect. Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no consent, approval, waiver or authorization is required to be obtained by WHP from any Person (including any Governmental Authority) in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by WHP of this Agreement and the consummation of the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions.
Section 6.03 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finders or other fee or commission in connection with the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions made by or behalf of WHP or any of its Affiliates.
Section 6.04 Financing. As of the date of this Agreement, WHP has provided to the Sellers true, a correct and complete executed copy of the Debt Commitment Letter, together with any fee letters, which may be redacted for fee amounts, any market flex provisions or other provisions requested by the Debt Financing Sources pursuant to which, and subject to the terms and conditions of which, the Debt Financing Sources have committed to lend the amounts set forth therein to WHP for the purpose of funding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and as otherwise set forth therein. As of the date of this Agreement, the Debt Commitment Letter (x) is a legal, valid and binding obligation of WHP and, to the knowledge of WHP, each other party thereto, in each case, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exceptions, (y) is in full force and effect, has not been amended, modified, withdrawn, terminated or rescinded in any respect, and (z) no event has occurred which (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) would reasonably be expected to constitute a breach thereunder on the part of WHP. Assuming the conditions set forth in Section 8.01 and Section 8.02 are satisfied at the Closing, the immediately available funds from the aggregate proceeds of the Debt Financing, when funded in accordance with the terms of the Debt Commitment Letter on the Closing Date, together with available cash on hand of WHP and immediately available funds from the proceeds of borrowings under the WHP Revolver, will be sufficient for WHP to make the payments required by WHP hereunder at the Closing, including (x) paying the aggregate Purchase Price required by Section 2.03 at the Closing and (y) paying all related fees and expenses to be paid by WHP in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement at the Closing (collectively, the Financing Purposes). As of the date of this Agreement and assuming the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.01 and Section 8.02 are satisfied at the Closing, WHP does not have any reason to believe that any of the conditions to the Debt Financing would not reasonably be expected to be satisfied
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on a timely basis or that the Debt Financing would not reasonably be expected to be available to WHP on the Closing Date. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no other agreements, side letters or arrangements relating to the Debt Financing to which WHP or any of its Affiliates is a party that would (i) impair the enforceability of any of the commitments of the Debt Financing, (ii) reduce the aggregate amount of any portion of the Debt Financing such that the aggregate amount of the Debt Financing would be below the amount required to pay the Financing Purposes, (iii) impose new or additional conditions precedent to the Debt Financing, or (iv) reasonably be expected to prevent, delay or adversely impair the consummation of the Debt Financing. The non-redacted portion of the Debt Commitment Letter contain all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of the parties thereunder to make the full amount of the Debt Financing available to WHP on the terms set forth therein. As of the date of this Agreement, WHP is not and, to WHPs knowledge, no other party to the Debt Commitment Letter is in breach of any of the terms or conditions set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter and WHP is not aware of any fact, event or other occurrence that makes any of the representations or warranties of WHP in any of the financing commitments inaccurate in any material respect. As of the date of this Agreement, the Debt Commitment Letter has not been modified, amended or altered and none of the respective commitments thereunder have been terminated, reduced, withdrawn or rescinded in any respect and, to the knowledge of WHP, no termination, reduction, withdrawal or rescission thereof is contemplated (except as contemplated or as permitted as of the date hereof in the Debt Commitment Letter).
Section 6.05 Exclusivity of Representations. The representations and warranties made by WHP in this ARTICLE VI and in any certificate required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement by WHP, its Affiliates or any of its Representatives are the exclusive representations and warranties made by WHP and its Affiliates and Representatives with respect to the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions. It is understood that any other materials (including any financial projection, forecast, estimate or budget of future results or future financial condition relating to WHP and any oral or written information presented to Parent or any of its Affiliates or Representatives in the course of their due diligence investigation of WHP, the negotiation of this Agreement or in the course of the transactions contemplated hereby) made available to Parent or its Subsidiaries and Affiliates do not, directly or indirectly, and shall not be deemed to, directly or indirectly, contain representations or warranties of WHP.
Article VII COVENANTS
Section 7.01 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing. From the Effective Date until the Closing, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document, as required by applicable Law, as set forth on Section 7.01 of the Disclosure Schedules or consented to in writing by WHP (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed):
(a) | Parent and Seller shall, and shall cause the Company to (upon its formation), use commercially reasonable efforts to: |
(i) | preserve and maintain all material permits required for the ownership and use of the Contributed Assets; |
(ii) | pay the undisputed debts, Taxes and other obligations of the Company when due; |
(iii) | maintain the Contributed Assets in materially the same condition as they were on the date of this Agreement; and |
(iv) | perform all of its obligations under all Assigned Contracts in all material respects and comply in all material respects with all Laws applicable to the ownership and use of the Contributed Assets. |
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(b) | Parent and Seller shall not, and upon its formation, shall cause the Company not to, take or authorize any action that would cause any of the following to occur with respect to the Contributed Assets or the Company: |
(i) | except as contemplated by this Agreement or the Contribution Agreement, a transfer, assignment, sale, lease or other disposition or otherwise make subject to an Encumbrance on any of the Contributed Assets, other than any (A) Encumbrances pursuant to the Parent Credit Facility, (B) sale, assignment, lease or other disposition in the ordinary course of business which would not otherwise be prohibited under the terms of the License Agreement if the License Agreement were in effect as of the Effective Date or (C) Permitted Encumbrances; |
(ii) | amendment, termination or waiver of any rights constituting Contributed Assets in any adverse respect; |
(iii) | abandonment or lapse of or failure to maintain in full force and effect any issuance, registration or application by or with any governmental authority or authorized private registrar in any jurisdiction applicable to any material Contributed Asset; |
(iv) | (A) acceleration, material amendment or material modification to or (B) termination or cancellation of any Assigned Contract (other than any expiration of any such Assigned Contract in accordance with its terms); |
(v) | commencement or settlement of any claims, actions, arbitrations, disputes or other proceedings that materially and adversely affect the Contributed Assets or the Company, other than any settlement or compromise where the amount paid or to be paid by the Seller or any of its Subsidiaries is fully covered by insurance coverage or retention amounts maintained by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; |
(vi) | adoption of any plan of merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution or filing of a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy Law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Law; or |
(vii) | agree, whether in writing or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing. |
Section 7.02 Access to Information. From the Effective Date until earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article X, upon the written request of WHP, Parent shall (a) afford WHP and its Representatives reasonable access to and the right to inspect, during normal business hours and in accordance with the reasonable procedures established by Parent, all of the premises, books and records, contracts and other documents and data related to the Contributed Assets; (b) furnish WHP and its Representatives with such financial, operating and other data and information to the extent related to the Contributed Assets as WHP or any of its Representatives may reasonably request for purposes of integration planning and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (c) instruct the Representatives of Parent to reasonably cooperate with WHP in its investigation of the Contributed Assets. Any investigation pursuant to this Section 7.02 shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries. No investigation by WHP or other information received by WHP shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by Parent or Seller in this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7.02, Parent and Seller may withhold any document or information (i) that is subject to the terms of a non-disclosure agreement or similar
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undertaking with a Third Party in existence as of the date of this Agreement, (ii) that may constitute privileged attorney-client communications or attorney work product or (iii) if, upon written advice from outside counsel to Parent, the provision of access to such document or information, as determined by Parent or Seller in good faith, would reasonably be expected to conflict with applicable contracts or Laws; provided, that in the case of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv), Parent and Seller, as applicable, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to arrange alternative access to such document or information in a manner without violating such contracts or Laws and without resulting in a loss of such privilege.
Section 7.03 No Solicitation of Other Bids.
(a) | From the Effective Date until the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article X, Parent shall not, and shall not authorize or permit any of its Subsidiaries (including Seller and, upon its formation, the Company) or any of its or their Representatives to, directly or indirectly, knowingly encourage, solicit, initiate, knowingly facilitate or continue inquiries regarding, or enter into, any Acquisition Proposal; provided, that Parent and its Representatives may respond to any unsolicited inquiry or proposal solely for the purpose of communicating Parents obligation pursuant to this Section 7.03. Following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent shall promptly cease and cause to be terminated, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and all of its and their Representatives to promptly cease and cause to be terminated, all existing discussions or negotiations with any Persons conducted heretofore with respect to, or that would lead to, an Acquisition Proposal. For purposes hereof, Acquisition Proposal means any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person (other than WHP) relating to the direct or indirect disposition, whether by sale, merger or otherwise, of (i) more than 15% of the issued and outstanding Parent Common Stock, (ii) all or any portion of the Contributed Assets (other than assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business which would not otherwise be prohibited to be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of under the terms of the License Agreement if the License Agreement were in effect as of the Effective Date) or (iii) more than 15% of the assets of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. |
(b) | In addition to the other obligations under this Section 7.03, from the Effective Date until the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article X, Parent shall promptly (and in any event within 48 hours after receipt thereof by Parent) notify WHP orally or in writing of any Acquisition Proposal, any request for information with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry with respect to or which would reasonably be expected to result in an Acquisition Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such request, Acquisition Proposal or inquiry, and the identity of the Person making the same. Such notice shall describe (i) the material terms and conditions of such Acquisition Proposal, inquiry, expression of interest, proposal, offer, notice or request and (ii) the identity of the Person or group making any such Acquisition proposal, inquiry, expression of interest, proposal, offer, notice or request. Parent shall keep WHP reasonably informed of the status and details of, and any material modification to, any such inquiry, expression of interest, proposal or offer and shall provide to WHP a copy of any material written materials provided to Parent with respect to such inquiry, expression of interest, proposal or offer and any amendments, correspondence and communications related thereto. |
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(c) | From the date hereof until the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article X, except as required or permitted by this Agreement, neither Parent nor Seller shall, and, upon formation, shall cause the Company not to, enter into any other transaction or series of transactions not in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, the consummation of which would materially impede, materially interfere with, prevent or materially delay, or would reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with, prevent or delay, the consummation of the Transactions. Each of Parent and WHP agrees that the rights and remedies for noncompliance with this Section 7.03 shall include having such provision specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to Parent or WHP, as applicable, and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to Parent or WHP, as applicable. |
Section 7.04 Notice of Certain Events.
(a) | From the Effective Date until the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article X, Parent shall promptly notify WHP in writing of: |
(i) | any material notice or other material written communication received by Parent from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the Transactions; |
(ii) | any material notice or other material written communication received by Parent from any Governmental Authority to the extent related the Transactions; and |
(iii) | any actions commenced or, to Parents knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting the Contributed Assets that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 4.06 or that relates to the consummation of the Transactions. |
(b) | WHPs receipt of information pursuant to this Section 7.04 shall not operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by Parent in this Agreement (including Section 9.01 and Section 10.01(d)) and shall not be deemed to amend or supplement the Disclosure Schedules. |
Section 7.05 Private Placement. Seller intends to transfer the Purchased Equity as provided in this Agreement pursuant to a private placement exemption or exemptions from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder and an exemption from qualification under applicable state securities Laws. WHP acknowledges and agrees (a) that WHP (i) is an accredited investor as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, (ii) has total assets in excess of $10 million and (iii) was not formed for the purposes of acquiring the Purchased Equity or the Parent Common Stock and (b) to fully cooperate with Seller and the Company in its efforts to ensure that the Purchased Equity may be transferred pursuant to such exemptions.
Section 7.06 Confidentiality. The parties hereto acknowledge that WHP and Parent have previously executed the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.
Section 7.07 Closing Conditions. From the Effective Date until the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article X, each Party shall use reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are reasonably necessary to expeditiously satisfy the closing conditions set forth in ARTICLE VIII hereof.
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Section 7.08 Public Announcements. The communications plan release with respect to the execution of this Agreement, including all public announcements, Forms 8-K and press releases related thereto, shall be reasonably agreed upon by WHP and Parent. Thereafter, WHP and Parent shall consult with each other a reasonable amount of time before issuing, and give each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release or other public statements with respect to the Ancillary Documents or the Transactions, and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as may be required by Governmental Authorities, applicable Law, Judgment, court process rules or regulations of any stock exchange upon which such partys or its Subsidiarys capital stock is traded. The foregoing notwithstanding, a party, its Subsidiaries or their respective Representatives may issue a public announcement or other public disclosures (a) required by applicable Law, Judgment or court process, (b) required by the rules or regulations of any stock exchange upon which such partys or its Subsidiarys capital stock is traded or (c) consistent with any previous public announcement or public disclosure (including any Current Reports on Form 8-K or Form 8-K/A) made by the parties in accordance with this Section 7.08; provided that, in each case, such party shall use reasonable best efforts to afford the other party an opportunity to first review the content of the proposed disclosure and provide reasonable comments thereon, except as may be required by Governmental Authorities, applicable Law, Judgment, court process rules or regulations of any stock exchange upon which such partys or its Subsidiarys capital stock is traded.
Section 7.09 Taxes.
(a) | Transfer Taxes. All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, value added and other such taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement (including any real property transfer tax and any other similar tax) (Transfer Taxes) shall be borne and paid 60% by WHP, on the one hand, and 40% by Seller, on the other hand, when due. The person obligated by applicable law shall, at its own expense, timely file any Tax Return or other document with respect to such Transfer Taxes (and the Parties hereto shall cooperate with respect thereto as necessary). |
(b) | Section 754 Election and other Tax Elections. The Parties shall cause the Company to make an election under Code Section 754 for the taxable year of the Company that includes the Closing Date, which election shall not be revoked for such taxable year. Each Party will, upon request, use commercially reasonable efforts to supply promptly any requested information reasonably necessary to give proper effect to such election and to determine the tax attributes of the Company and the amount of the adjustment under Section 743 of the Code (and the characteristics thereof). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) no entity classification election to treat the Company as anything other than a partnership for U.S. federal, state or local tax purposes shall be filed by or with respect to the Company, and (ii) no election to pay a U.S. state or local pass-through entity tax or similar tax shall be made by or with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, in each case without the prior written consent of Parent. |
(c) | Straddle Periods. To the extent it is necessary for purposes of this Agreement to determine the allocation of Taxes with respect to a Straddle Period, the portion of any such Taxes attributable to the portion of the period ending on the Closing Date shall be (i) in the case of Taxes that are either (A) based upon or related to income or receipts, or (B) imposed in connection with any sale of property, deemed equal to the amount that would be payable if the Tax period of the Company ended with (and included) the Closing Date; provided that, exemptions, allowances or deductions that are calculated on an annual basis shall be allocated between the period ending on and including the Closing Date and the period beginning after the Closing Date in proportion to the number of days in each period, and |
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(ii) in the case of Taxes that are imposed on a periodic basis with respect to the assets or capital of the Company, deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire Straddle Period, multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar days in the portion of the period ending on and including the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of calendar days in the entire period. The Parties shall cause the Company to adopt the interim closing of the books method under Section 706 of the Code (utilizing a calendar day convention) unless otherwise agreed by Parent and WHP. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, the Parties shall not cause the Company to take any action in respect of Taxes outside of the ordinary course of business on the Closing Date. |
(d) | Tax Cooperation. WHP, Seller and Parent shall, and shall cause the Company to, cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other Party, in connection with the preparation and filing of any Tax Returns, amended Tax Returns or claims for refunds of Taxes relating to the Company and any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes. Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the other Partys request) the provision of records and information which are reasonably relevant to any such matter and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder. Each Party shall provide to the others, within ten (10) Business Days of the receipt thereof, any Tax related communications and notices it receives which may impact the other Partys Tax liability or filing responsibilities. Each Party shall retain all Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, and all material records and other documents relating to Tax matters of the Company until the later of (i) the expiration of the statute of limitations for the Tax periods to which the Tax Returns and other documents relate or (ii) six (6) years following the due date for such Tax Returns. |
(e) | Intended Tax Treatment. The Parties intend that for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes, the purchase and sale of the Purchased Equity shall be treated as the purchase and sale of partnership interests from Seller to WHP pursuant to a transaction governed by Section 741 of the Code (clauses (a) and (b), the Intended Tax Treatment). No Party shall take a position on any Tax Return or any proceeding with respect to Taxes inconsistent with such treatment, except to the extent otherwise required by a determination within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law). |
Section 7.10 Further Assurances. Following the Closing, each of the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates to, execute and deliver such additional documents, instruments, conveyances and assurances and take such further actions as may be reasonably required to carry out the provisions hereof and give effect to the Transactions.
Section 7.11 Regulatory Compliance.
(a) | Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the Parent and WHP shall cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause its Subsidiaries to use) its reasonable best efforts (unless, with respect to any action, another standard of performance is expressly provided for herein) to promptly (i) take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to be done, and assist and cooperate with each other in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to cause the conditions to Closing to be satisfied as promptly as reasonably practicable and to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner reasonably practicable, the Transactions, including preparing and filing promptly and fully |
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all documentation to effect all necessary filings, notices, petitions, statements, registrations, submissions of information, applications and other documents, (ii) obtain all approvals, consents, registrations, waivers, permits, authorizations, orders and other confirmations from any Governmental Authority or third party necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Transactions, (iii) execute and deliver any additional instruments necessary to consummate the Transactions and (iv) defend or contest in good faith any Action brought by a third party that could otherwise prevent or impede, interfere with, hinder or delay in any material respect the consummation of the Transactions. |
(b) | The Parent and WHP agree to make an appropriate filing of a Notification and Report Form (HSR Form) pursuant to the HSR Act with respect to the Transactions (which shall request the early termination of any waiting period applicable to the Transactions under the HSR Act) as promptly as reasonably practicable and in any event no later than ten (10) Business Days following the date of this Agreement, and to supply as promptly as reasonably practicable any additional information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR Act and to promptly take any and all steps necessary to avoid or eliminate each and every impediment and obtain all consents that may be required pursuant to the HSR Act, so as to enable the parties hereto to consummate the Transactions. Each of Parent and WHP shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) cooperate in all respects with the other party in connection with any filing or submission with a Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry by or before a Governmental Authority relating to the Transactions, including any proceeding initiated by a private person, (ii) keep the other party informed in all material respects and on a reasonably timely basis of any material communication received by the Company or the Investor, as the case may be, from or given by the Company or the Investor, as the case may be, to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice (DOJ) or any other Governmental Authority and of any material communication received or given in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, in each case regarding the Transactions, (iii) subject to applicable Laws relating to the exchange of information, and to the extent reasonably practicable, consult with the other party with respect to information relating to such party and its respective Subsidiaries, as the case may be, that appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any third Person or any Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions, other than 4(c) and 4(d) documents as that term is used in the rules and regulations under the HSR Act and other confidential information contained in the HSR Form, and (iv) to the extent permitted by the FTC, the DOJ or such other applicable Governmental Authority or other Person, give the other party the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and conferences. |
Section 7.12 R&W Insurance. Upon WHPs reasonable and written request, Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with WHP to obtain and bind, at WHPs sole expense, the R&W Insurance Policy. WHP shall not cancel, amend or waive any provision under the R&W Insurance Policy in any manner that adversely affects the Seller Indemnifying Parties or that would allow the insurer thereunder or any other Person to subrogate or otherwise make a claim or bring an Action against any Seller Indemnified Party; provided, that the foregoing will not limit WHPs right to pursue a claim in respect of Fraud and provided, further, that the insurer under the R&W Insurance Policy shall be entitled to subrogate against the Seller Indemnifying Parties in the event of Fraud.
Section 7.13 Prepayment of Payoff Credit Facility Indebtedness. From the date hereof until the Closing, Parent will, and will cause its representatives to, use its reasonable best efforts to obtain and deliver to WHP at least two (2) Business Day prior to the Closing Date, a draft payoff letter and, prior to the Closing Date, a duly executed payoff letter (the Payoff Letter) in respect of (A) the discharge of all indebtedness for borrowed money listed on Schedule 7.13 of the Disclosure Schedules (Payoff Indebtedness) and (B) upon repayment in full of such Payoff Indebtedness, the release of any liens securing such Payoff Indebtedness in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to WHP.
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Section 7.14 Debt Financing Cooperation.
(a) | From the date hereof until the Closing, Parent and Seller will, and will cause their representatives, affiliates and subsidiaries to, use commercially reasonable efforts to provide to WHP all reasonable cooperation, as may be reasonably requested by WHP in connection with WHP obtaining the Debt Financing or any Alternative Financing in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including (i) reasonable cooperation with any due diligence investigation and evaluation relating to the Company and the Contributed Assets and furnishing WHP and its Debt Financing Sources with such other pertinent information regarding the Company and the Contributed Assets as is reasonably requested by WHP or the Debt Financing Sources, including information relating to the Company and the Contributed Assets to be included in any schedules relating to any debt financing, (ii) obtaining releases of existing liens on the Contributed Assets in accordance with Section 8.02(g), and (iii) cooperating in satisfying the conditions precedent set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter. |
(b) | All non-public or otherwise confidential information regarding the Company, Seller or Parent obtained by WHP or its representatives pursuant to this Section 7.14 shall be kept confidential in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement; provided that WHP shall be permitted to disclose information as necessary and consistent with customary practices in connection with its debt financing subject to customary confidentiality arrangements. |
(c) | WHP will (i) promptly upon request by Parent, reimburse Parent for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys fees) incurred by Parent and its representatives in connection with any cooperation contemplated by this Section 7.14 (excluding amounts that would have been incurred in connection with the Closing regardless of any debt financing obtained by WHP) and (ii) indemnify, defend and hold harmless Parent and its respective agents, representatives and Affiliates from and against all losses, liabilities or expenses (excluding all internal costs and expenses of Parent, including any compensation payable to employees of Parent) suffered or incurred by any of them in connection with or arising from any cooperation that Parent provides pursuant to this Section 7.14 (other than information provided in writing by Parent, the Seller or their respective Affiliates specifically for use in connection therewith or any gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud by Parent, the Seller or their respective Affiliates). |
Section 7.15 Management Agreement. Prior to the Closing, WHP and Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate the terms and conditions of the Management Agreement that are reasonably satisfactory to each of WHP and Parent.
Section 7.16 Formation of Company and Contribution Co. Prior to the Closing, Parent shall take all action necessary and appropriate to form (i) the Company as a Delaware limited liability company and (ii) Contribution Co as a Delaware limited liability company, in each case, in accordance with all applicable Laws.
Section 7.17 IP Contribution. Prior to the Closing, Seller shall effectuate the IP Contribution in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Contribution Agreement and this Agreement.
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Section 7.18 WHP Financing Obligations.
(a) | WHP shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and do, or cause to be done, as promptly as possible, all things necessary, proper or advisable to arrange and obtain the Debt Financing as promptly as reasonably practicable but in any event prior to the Closing Date. Such efforts include: (i) using its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain in effect the Debt Commitment Letter, (ii) using its commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy (or obtain the waiver thereof), or cause to be satisfied, on a timely basis all conditions to WHP obtaining the Debt Financing set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter that are under control of WHP, and comply with its obligations thereunder; (iii) using its commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate and enter into definitive agreements with respect to the Debt Financing (the Definitive Agreements) on terms and conditions contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter (or on terms no less favorable to the Parent with respect to conditionality and the aggregate amount of the Debt Financing), subject to any amendments or modifications thereto permitted by this Section 7.18; (iv) using its commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the Debt Financing at or prior to the Closing (subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.01 and Section 8.02), (v) using its commercially reasonable efforts to enforce its rights under the Debt Commitment Letter and (vi) using its commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy the conditions to borrowing under the WHP Revolver prior to Closing. |
(b) | Unless Parent gives prior written consent, WHP shall: (i) comply in all material respects with the Debt Commitment Letter and each Definitive Agreement with respect thereto and (ii) not permit any amendment, termination or modification to the Debt Commitment Letter or the fee letter referred to in the Debt Commitment Letter that would reasonably be expected to: (A) reduce the aggregate amount of the Debt Financing to an amount less than required for the Financing Purposes (including by increasing the amount of fees to be paid or original issue discount as compared to the fees and original issue discount contemplated by the fee letters on the date of this Agreement), unless any other debt or equity financing is increased by a corresponding amount or from sources otherwise available to fund the Financing Purposes; (B) impose any new or additional condition to the consummation of the Debt Financing that would reasonably be expected to (1) hinder, delay or prevent the Closing or (2) make the funding of any portion of the Debt Financing necessary for the Financing Purposes materially less likely to occur on the Closing Date; (C) adversely affects the ability of WHP to enforce its rights against other parties to the Debt Commitment Letter as so amended, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified, relative to the ability of WHP to enforce its rights against the other parties to the Debt Commitment Letter as in effect on the date of this Agreement; or (D) otherwise would reasonably be expected to hinder, delay or prevent the Closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, WHP shall be permitted to amend or otherwise modify the Debt Commitment Letter or any fee letter to add or replace lenders, lead arrangers, bookrunners, syndication agents or similar Persons as provided for in the Debt Commitment Letter. WHP shall promptly deliver to Parent copies of any written amendment, modification, waiver or replacement of the Debt Commitment Letter promptly following execution thereof. |
(c) | If at any time WHP becomes aware that all or any portion of the Debt Financing will be unavailable for any reason, WHP will use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) take, or cause to be taken, all actions to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to arrange to promptly obtain replacement equity or debt financing (any such replacement debt financing, the Alternative Financing), including from alternative sources, in an amount |
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sufficient, when added to any portion of the Debt Financing that is still available, immediately available funds under the WHP Revolver and available cash on hand of WHP, for the Financing Purposes, and on terms and conditions no less favorable, taken as a whole, to WHP (as determined by WHP in good faith) than those in the Debt Commitment Letter as in effect on the date of this Agreement and which do not include any conditions to the consummation of such Alternative Financing that are more onerous than the conditions set forth in the Debt Financing, (ii) promptly notify Parent of such unavailability and (iii) obtain a new financing commitment letter in respect of any such Alternative Financing (the Alternative Debt Commitment Letter). WHP shall deliver to Parent true and complete copies of any commitment letters and any related fee letters (subject, in the case of such fee letters, to redaction of fee amounts, market flex provisions or other provisions requested by the Debt Financing Sources) with respect to any Alternative Financing. For purposes of this Agreement (other than Section 6.04), the term Debt Financing shall be deemed to include any Alternative Financing and the term Debt Commitment Letter shall be deemed to include any Alternative Debt Commitment Letter. |
(d) | WHP shall provide Parent with (x) prompt written notice of any material breach, default, termination, cancellation or repudiation by any party to the Debt Commitment Letter and (y) a copy of any written notice or other written communication from any Debt Financing Source with respect to any actual or alleged (in writing) material breach, default, termination, cancellation or repudiation by any party to the Debt Commitment Letter or any related fee letter. Upon the request by Parent, WHP shall keep Parent informed on a reasonably current basis in reasonable detail of the status and of its efforts to arrange the Debt Financing. |
(e) | Notwithstanding any in this Agreement to the contrary, WHP shall not terminate or permanently reduce the WHP Revolver on or prior to the Closing, unless any other debt or equity financing is increased by a corresponding amount or from sources otherwise available to fund the Financing Purposes with conditions precedent that are no more onerous than the conditions set forth for WHP Revolver. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing in this Section 7.18, compliance by WHP with this Section 7.18 shall not relieve WHP of its obligations to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement whether or not the Debt Financing is available. |
Article VIII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
Section 8.01 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties. The respective obligations of each Party to effect the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction (or waiver, if permissible under applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:
(a) | at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the IP Contribution and the other transactions contemplated by or in connection with the Contribution Agreement, such that, as of immediately prior to the Closing, the Company is the owner of the Contributed Assets (subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth in the Contribution Agreement); |
(b) | the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement will be consummated immediately after or substantially concurrently with the Closing; |
(c) | no Judgment enacted, promulgated, issued, entered, amended or enforced by any Governmental Authority or any applicable Law (collectively, Restraints) shall be in effect enjoining or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Transactions; and |
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(d) | the waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of Transactions under the HSR Act shall have expired or early termination thereof shall have been granted. |
Section 8.02 Conditions to Obligations of WHP. The obligations of WHP to effect the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction (or waiver, if permissible under applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:
(a) | (i) the Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects) and (ii) all other representations and warranties of Seller contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct (disregarding all qualifications or limitations as to materiality, Material Adverse Effect and words of similar import set forth therein) on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects), except, in the case of this clause (ii), where the failure to be true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; |
(b) | Each of Parent and Seller shall have complied with or performed in all material respects its obligations required to be complied with or performed by it pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing; |
(c) | from the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect; |
(d) | WHP shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of Seller, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 8.02(a) and Section 8.02(b) have been satisfied; |
(e) | WHP shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of Parent, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 8.02(a) and Section 8.02(b) have been satisfied; and |
(f) | WHP shall have received each applicable Ancillary Document duly executed by the applicable member(s) of the Parent Group as set forth in Section 3.02(a)(i); provided, that delivery of the Management Agreement shall not be a condition to Closing. |
(g) | WHP shall have received all releases, filings and similar documents necessary to release any and all Encumbrances solely in respect of the Contributed Assets and secured by the Parent Credit Facility and the MGF Security Agreement, in each case, in form reasonably satisfactory to WHP and the Debt Financing Sources; provided that any such releases, filings and similar documents may be provided substantially concurrently with the Closing Date. |
Section 8.03 Conditions to Obligations of the Parent Group. The obligations of the Parent Group to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Parents waiver (if permissible under applicable Law), at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:
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(a) | The representations and warranties of WHP contained herein shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects), except where the failure to be true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a WHP Material Adverse Effect; |
(b) | WHP shall have complied with or performed in all material respects its obligations required to be complied with or performed by it pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing; |
(c) | Seller shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of WHP, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 8.03(a) and Section 8.03(b) have been satisfied; |
(d) | Seller shall have received each applicable Ancillary Document duly executed by WHP, as set forth in Section 3.02(c)(i); provided, that delivery of the Management Agreement shall not be a condition to Closing; and |
(e) | the consent set forth on Section 8.01(d) of the Disclosure Schedules shall have been obtained. |
Article IX INDEMNIFICATION
Section 9.01 Indemnification By Seller.
(a) | Seller shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless WHP, WHPs Subsidiaries and WHPs Affiliates and, if applicable, their respective stockholders, directors, officers and employees (collectively, the WHP Indemnitees) from and against all claims, judgments, damages, liabilities, settlements, Losses, costs and expenses, including settlement costs, costs of investigation and defense, the reasonable, documented and out-of-pocket fees of attorneys, experts and other professionals and disbursements, whether or not due to a claim by a Third Party, directly or indirectly, arising out of, resulting from or relating to: |
(i) | any Excluded Assets or any Excluded Liabilities (as such terms are defined in the Contribution Agreement); |
(ii) | Indemnified Taxes; or |
(iii) | any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the Fundamental Representations. |
(b) | For purposes of calculating or determining the amount of Losses paid, incurred or sustained by a WHP Indemnitee, there shall be deducted from any Losses an amount equal to any third-party insurance, indemnification or contribution payments actually received by such WHP Indemnitee in respect of such Losses (net of applicable costs of recovery or collection, retention, deductible, retroactive premium adjustment, reimbursement or other cost related to such insurance, indemnification or contribution arrangement in respect of Losses thereof); provided, however, that no WHP Indemnitee shall have any obligation to claim, seek or otherwise obtain any such insurance, indemnification or contribution proceeds to which it may be entitled, and the failure of a WHP Indemnitee to seek any such proceeds shall not in any way affect or modify such WHP Indemnitees rights, or the Parent, Seller and each of their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates obligations, under and subject to the terms of this ARTICLE IX. |
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Section 9.02 Indemnification By WHP.
(a) | WHP shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Parent, Seller, and each of their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates and, if applicable, their respective stockholders, directors, officers and employees (collectively, the Seller Indemnitees), from and against all claims, judgments, damages, liabilities, settlements, Losses, costs and expenses, including settlement costs, costs of investigation and defense, the reasonable, documented and out-of-pocket fees of attorneys, experts and other professionals and disbursements whether or not due to a claim by a Third Party, directly or indirectly, arising out of, resulting from or relating to any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of WHP contained in this Agreement. |
(b) | For purposes of calculating or determining the amount of Losses paid, incurred or sustained by a Seller Indemnitee, there shall be deducted from any Losses an amount equal to any third-party insurance, indemnification or contribution payments actually received by such Seller Indemnitee in respect of such Losses (net of applicable costs of recovery or collection, retention, deductible, retroactive premium adjustment, reimbursement or other cost related to such insurance, indemnification or contribution arrangement in respect of Losses thereof). |
Section 9.03 Indemnification Procedures.
(a) | If a claim for Losses (a Claim) is proposed to be made by a party entitled to indemnification hereunder (the Indemnified Party) against the party from whom indemnification is claimed (the Indemnifying Party), the Indemnified Party will give written notice (a Claim Notice) to the Indemnifying Party as soon as practicable after the Indemnified Party becomes aware of any fact, condition or event which may give rise to Losses for which indemnification may be sought under this ARTICLE IX. The Parties agree that (i) any Claim Notice must be delivered prior to the expiration of the applicable survival period specified in Section 9.04 and (ii) any claims for indemnification for which notice is not delivered prior to the expiration of the applicable survival period specified in Section 9.04 shall be expressly barred and are hereby waived; provided that if, prior to the expiration of the applicable survival period, an Indemnified Party shall have notified the Indemnifying Party in accordance with the requirements of this Section 9.03 of a claim for indemnification, such claim shall continue to be subject to indemnification in accordance with this Section 9.03 notwithstanding the expiration of the applicable survival period. |
(b) | If any Person commences any action or proceeding with respect to any matter as to which any of the WHP Indemnified Parties intends to seek indemnification under Section 9.01, or with respect to any matter as to which any of the Seller Indemnified Parties intends to seek indemnification under Section 9.02, the Indemnified Party will promptly notify the Indemnifying Party of the existence of such Claim or the commencement of such action or proceeding. The failure of any Indemnified Party to give timely notice hereunder will not affect rights to indemnification hereunder, except to the extent such failure is materially prejudicial to the rights or obligations of the Indemnifying Party. A Claim Notice will describe in reasonable detail the nature of the Claim and, if reasonably ascertainable at such time, an estimate of the amount of Losses that have been or may be incurred by the Indemnified Party attributable to such Claim. |
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(c) | In the event that an Indemnified Party becomes aware of a Claim by a Third Party in respect of which such Indemnified Party believes in good faith that indemnifiable damages that may be sought against an Indemnifying Party pursuant to this ARTICLE IX, such Indemnified Party will have the right in its sole discretion, but not the obligation, to undertake the defense of such Claim for the account of the Indemnifying Party upon written notice to the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnified Party does undertake such defense in accordance with the preceding sentence, it shall have the right to settle such Third Party Claim; provided that such settlement (A) does not involve any equitable relief or finding or admission of any violation of Law or admission of any wrongdoing by any Indemnifying Party and (B) contains a release of the Indemnifying Party that is reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnified Party does not assume such defense in accordance with this Section 9.03(c), then the Indemnifying Party may assume such defense upon written notice to the Indemnified Party and counsel for the defense shall be selected by the Indemnifying Party (subject to the consent of the Indemnified Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). If the Indemnifying Party assumes such defense in accordance with the preceding sentence, it shall have the right to settle such Third Party Claim; provided that such settlement (A) does not involve any equitable relief or finding or admission of any violation of Law or admission of any wrongdoing by any Indemnified Party and (B) contains a release of the Indemnifying Party that is reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnifying Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 9.03 shall not govern any Tax Claims, which shall be governed solely by Section 8.04 of the Operating Agreement. |
(d) | The party assuming the defense will keep the other party reasonably apprised of the status of the Claim, liability or expense and any resulting suit, proceeding or enforcement action, and shall furnish such other party with all material documents and information that such other party shall reasonably request and shall use commercially reasonable efforts consult with such other party prior to acting on major matters, including settlement discussions. Notwithstanding anything herein stated, the party not controlling the defense shall at all times have the right to fully participate in such defense (at its own expense) directly or through counsel. |
(e) | Any indemnification or reimbursement for Losses owed by an Indemnifying Party to an Indemnified Party hereunder shall be offset from distributions otherwise payable to such Indemnifying Party pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Operating Agreement. |
Section 9.04 Survival. The representations and warranties of the Company Group and the covenants, agreements and obligations of Parent and Seller that by their terms contemplate performance prior to the Closing contained in this Agreement or in any certificate required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall terminate at, and will not survive the Closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, (a) any Claim arising from Fraud shall survive the Closing until the date that is three years after the Closing Date, (b) any claim arising from a breach of the representations and warranties of the Company Group contained in Section 4.02(a) and Section 4.03 (the Fundamental Representations) shall survive the Closing until the date that is three years after the Closing Date, (c) those covenants and agreements of Parent, Seller or WHP contained in this Agreement that by their terms contemplate performance at or after the Closing, shall survive the Closing until they are fully performed in accordance with their respective terms, (d) any Claim arising from the obligations set forth in Section 9.01(a)(i) shall survive indefinitely and (e) any Claim arising from the obligations set forth in Section 9.01(a)(ii) shall survive until the expiration of the statute of limitations for the Tax periods to which the Indemnified Taxes relate, plus thirty calendar days, it being understood and agreed that any pending claim pursuant to the foregoing clauses (a) through (e) shall survive until such claim is finally resolved if notice of such claim has been validly delivered to the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought prior to the expiration of the applicable survival period.
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Section 9.05 Limitations on Indemnification.
(a) | Notwithstanding the provisions of this ARTICLE IX, in no event shall the aggregate indemnification to be paid by Seller or Parent under Section 9.01(a) or WHP under Section 9.02 exceed the Indemnification Cap, except in the case of (i) Fraud or (ii) a Claim arising from the obligations set forth in Section 9.01(a)(i). For the avoidance doubt, Sellers indemnification compensation or reimbursement obligations for Losses resulting or relating to any Fraud or from the obligations set forth in Section 9.01(a)(i) shall not be subject to any cap. |
(b) | For purposes of calculating Losses hereunder, any materiality or similar qualifications limiting the scope of such representations, warranties, covenants or agreements shall be disregarded. |
(c) | None of the WHP Indemnitees and the Seller Indemnitees shall be entitled to recover for the same Loss more than once under this Article IX or otherwise under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document even if a claim for indemnification or otherwise in respect of such Loss has been made as a result of a breach of more than one covenant, agreement or representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document. |
(d) | Each Party acknowledges the common law duty to mitigate their respective Losses for which it would have the right to seek indemnification hereunder. |
(e) | In no event shall either Party have any liability under this Article IX for any consequential, special, incidental, indirect or punitive damages, lost profits or similar items, including loss of revenue, income or profits, damages based on any multiple of revenue or income, diminution of value or loss of business reputation or opportunity relating to a breach or alleged breach of this Agreement (except, in the case of punitive damages, to the extent awarded to a third party pursuant to a Third Party Claim). |
Section 9.06 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. All indemnification payments made by Seller under this Agreement shall be treated by the Parties as an adjustment to the Purchase Price for tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.
Section 9.07 Effect of Investigation. WHPs right to indemnification or other remedy based on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Parent and Seller contained herein will not be affected by any investigation conducted by WHP with respect to, or any knowledge acquired by WHP at any time, with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy of or compliance with, any such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement.
Section 9.08 No Effect on R&W Insurance Policy. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no limitations (including any survival limitations and other limitations set forth in this ARTICLE IX), qualifications or procedures in this Agreement shall be deemed to limit or modify the ability of WHP to make claims under or recover under the R&W Insurance Policy; it being understood that any matter for which there is coverage available under the R&W Insurance Policy shall be subject to the terms, conditions and limitations, if any, set forth in the R&W Insurance Policy.
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Section 9.09 Exclusive Remedies. Following the Closing, except for (a) claims for Fraud and (b) claims for equitable relief with respect to covenants, agreements or obligations under this Agreement to be performed at or after the Closing, the rights to indemnification, compensation and reimbursement under this ARTICLE IX and the R&W Insurance Policy shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Indemnified Parties against the Indemnifying Parties with respect to the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement. In addition, without modifying or qualifying in any way the preceding sentence or implying any intent contrary thereto, the IP Contributors or any of their Affiliates or any other Person (other than WHP and its permitted assigns in respect of the Debt Financing) hereby waive any rights or claims against the Debt Financing Sources and hereby agree that in no event shall the Debt Financing Sources have any liability or obligation to any IP Contributor or any of their Affiliates or any other Person (other than WHP and its permitted assigns in respect of the Debt Financing) relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the Debt Financing, whether at law or equity, in contract or in tort or otherwise and in no event shall any IP Contributor or any of their Affiliates or any other Person (other than WHP and its permitted assigns in respect of the Debt Financing) seek or obtain any other damages of any kind against any Financing Source (including consequently, special, indirect or punitive damages), in each case, relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the Debt Financing, the Debt Commitment Letter or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, whether at law or equity, in contract or in tort, or otherwise; provided that following consummation of the Transactions, nothing in this Section 9.09 shall limit the rights of any of the parties to the Definitive Agreements.
Article X TERMINATION
Section 10.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby abandoned at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) | by the mutual written consent of Parent and WHP; |
(b) | by either Parent or WHP if the Investment Agreement is validly terminated pursuant to its terms; |
(c) | by either Parent or WHP upon written notice to the other, if the Closing should not have occurred on or prior to April 7, 2023 (the Outside Date); provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.01(c) shall not be available to any party if the breach by such party of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement or the failure of such party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement has been a principal cause of or resulted in the events specified in this Section 10.01(c); |
(d) | by WHP if Parent or Seller shall have breached any of its representations or warranties or failed to perform any of its covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 8.02(a) or Section 8.02(b) or (ii) is incapable of being cured prior to the Outside Date, or if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured within 30 calendar days following receipt by Parent or Seller, as applicable, of written notice of such breach or failure to perform from WHP stating its intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.01(d) and the basis for such termination; provided that WHP shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.01(d) if WHP is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements hereunder; or |
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(e) | by Parent if WHP shall have breached any of its representations or warranties or failed to perform any of its covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 8.03(a) or Section 8.03(b) or (ii) is incapable of being cured prior to the Outside Date, or if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured within 30 calendar days following receipt by WHP of written notice of such breach or failure to perform from Parent stating its intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.01(e) and the basis for such termination; provided that Parent shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.01(e) if Parent or Seller is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements hereunder; or |
(f) | by WHP or Parent if any Restraint enjoining or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Membership Interests Purchase Transactions shall be in effect and shall have become final and nonappealable; provided that the Party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.01(f) shall have used the required efforts to cause the conditions to Closing to be satisfied in accordance with Section 7.11. |
Section 10.02 Effect of Termination.
(a) | In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 10.01, written notice thereof shall be given to the other party, specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which such termination is made, and this Agreement shall forthwith become null and void (other than Section 7.06, this Section 10.02 and ARTICLE XI, all of which shall survive termination of this Agreement), and there shall be no liability on the part of the any Party or their respective directors, officers and Affiliates, except that no such termination shall relieve any Party from liability for damages to another party resulting from Willful Breach or from Fraud. |
(b) | In the event that Parent or WHP terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.01(c) and at the time of such termination, all conditions to the Closing have been satisfied (or in the case of conditions which, by their nature, are to be satisfied at the Closing, shall be capable of being satisfied at the Closing) or waived, except for the conditions set forth in Section 8.03(e) then Parent shall pay to WHP (or its designee) an amount equal to $12,500,000 (the Termination Fee) by wire transfer, within three (3) Business Day after the date of the termination of the Agreement. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that (i) the agreements contained in this Section 10.02(b) are an integral part of the Agreement and the Transactions and that, without these agreements, the parties hereto would not enter into this Agreement and (ii) in light of the difficulty of accurately determining actual losses or damages with respect to the foregoing, the parties hereto acknowledge that the Termination Fee, in the circumstances in which such fee becomes payable, constitutes a reasonable estimate of the Losses that will be suffered by reason of any such termination of this Agreement and constitutes liquidated damages and is not a penalty. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that in no event shall the Company be required to pay the Termination Fee on more than one occasion. Except in the event of Fraud, WHPs right to receive the Termination Fee pursuant to and in accordance with Section 8.2(b), if any, shall be the sole and exclusive remedies of WHP and its former, current or future Affiliates and any of the foregoings respective former, current or future, direct or indirect, officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, shareholders, equity holders, managers, members, partners, agents, attorneys, advisors, financing sources or other Representatives or any of the foregoings respective successors or assigns pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including for any loss or monetary damages suffered as a result of any breach of any covenant or agreement in this Agreement or the failure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated. |
36
Article XI MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01 Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions shall be paid by the Party incurring such costs and expenses; provided that (a) all fees paid in respect of all applications, filings or notices with respect to the transfer of the Contributed Assets (including pursuant to the Contribution Agreement) shall be borne 50% by WHP and 50% by Parent and (b) all filing fees paid in respect of the filings under the HSR Act shall be borne 50% by Parent and 50% by WHP. For the avoidance of doubt, WHP shall pay all fees, costs and expenses in connection with the R&W Insurance Policy.
Section 11.02 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, emailed (which is confirmed) or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties at the following addresses:
If to Parent: | One Express Drive Columbus, OH 43230 Attention: [*****] Email: [*****] | |
with a copy to: | Kirkland & Ellis LLP 601 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10022 E-mail: eric.schiele@kirkland.com; rachael.coffey@kirkland.com Attention:Eric L. Schiele; Rachael G. Coffey | |
If to Seller: | One Express Drive Columbus, OH 43230 Attention: [*****] Email: [*****] | |
with a copy to: | Kirkland & Ellis LLP 601 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10022 E-mail: eric.schiele@kirkland.com; rachael.coffey@kirkland.com Attention:Eric L. Schiele; Rachael G. Coffey | |
If to WHP: | WH Borrower, LLC c/o WHP Global 530 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor New York, New York 10036 E-mail: [*****] Attention: [*****] |
37
Goodwin Procter LLP 100 Northern Avenue Boston, MA 02210 E-mail:
jzachariah@goodwinlaw.com; kmaswoswe@goodwinlaw.com Attention: Joshua M. Zachariah; R. Kirkie Maswoswe or such other address or email address as such party may hereafter specify by like notice to the other party hereto. All such
notices, requests and other communications shall be deemed received on the date of actual receipt by the recipient thereof if received prior to 5:00 p.m. local time in the place of receipt and such day is a Business Day in the place of receipt.
Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall be deemed not to have been received until the next succeeding Business Day in the place of receipt. Section 11.03 Construction. When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, a Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall
be to an Article of, a Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words include, includes or including are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation. The words
hereof, herein and hereunder and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The words date
hereof when used in this Agreement shall refer to the date of this Agreement. The terms or, any and either are not exclusive. The word extent in the phrase to the extent shall mean
the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply if. The word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall. The words made
available to the Investor and words of similar import refer to documents (A) posted to the virtual data room for Project Wardrobe by or on behalf of Parent or (B) delivered in Person or electronically to the Investor or its
respective Representatives. All accounting terms used and not defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP. All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any document made or delivered
pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term.
In the event that the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange other than NYSE, all references herein to NYSE shall be deemed to be references to such other national securities exchange. Any agreement or instrument defined or
referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement or instrument as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including by waiver or consent and references to all attachments thereto and
instruments incorporated therein. References to any Law shall be deemed to refer to such Law as amended from time to time and to any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder. Unless otherwise specifically indicated, all references to
dollars or $ shall refer to the lawful money of the United States. References to a Person are also to its permitted assigns and successors. All references to days shall be to calendar days unless otherwise
indicated as a Business Day. When calculating the period of time between which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such
period shall be excluded (unless, otherwise required by Law, if the last day of such period is not a Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next succeeding Business Day). 38
The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and, in the
event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto by virtue of the
authorship of any provision of this Agreement. Section 11.04 Severability. If any term, condition or
other provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law or public policy, all other terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect. Upon such determination that any term, condition or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to
effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law. Section 11.05 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Disclosure Schedule, together with the other Ancillary
Documents constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties and their Affiliates, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. Section 11.06 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and
their respective successors and permitted assigns. No Party may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Parties and in the event of such assignment, the assignee shall agree in writing to be bound by
the provisions of this Agreement, including the rights, interests and obligations so assigned. No assignment shall relieve the assigning Party of any of its obligations hereunder unless and until such obligations have been performed or satisfied.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, WHP, Parent or the Company may collaterally assign any or all of its rights and interests hereunder to any provider of debt financing. Section 11.07 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Article IX, no provision of this Agreement shall confer
upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their permitted assigns any rights or remedies hereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the parties expressly confirm their agreement that any Financing Source shall be entitled
to rely on and enforce the provisions of Sections 9.09, 11.06, 11.07, 11.08, 11.10, 11.11 and 11.12. Section 11.08 Amendment
and Modification. Subject to compliance with applicable Law, this Agreement may be amended or supplemented in any and all respects by written agreement of the parties hereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Sections 9.09, 11.06, 11.07,
11.08, 11.10, 11.11 and 11.12, (and any other provision of this Agreement to the extent an amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification of such provision would modify the substance of such sections) may not be amended, supplemented, waived or
otherwise modified in any manner that impacts or is otherwise adverse in any respect to the Debt Financing Sources without the Debt Financing Sources prior written consent. Section 11.09 Waiver. WHP and Parent may, subject to applicable Law, (a) waive any inaccuracies in the representations
and warranties of the other party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, (b) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or acts of the other party or (c) waive compliance by the other party with
any of the agreements contained herein applicable to such party or, except as otherwise provided herein, waive any of such partys conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by the WHP or Parent in exercising any right
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such
extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party. 39
Section 11.10 Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of
action (whether in contract, tort or statute) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or
related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement or as an inducement to enter into this Agreement), shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
contracts executed in and to be performed entirely within that State, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under any applicable conflict of Laws principles. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the parties hereto agrees that, except
as specifically set forth in the Debt Commitment Letter, all claims or causes of action (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise) against any of the sources of the Debt Financing in any way relating to the Debt Commitment Letter
or the performance thereof or the financings contemplated thereby, shall be exclusively governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles or rules or conflict of laws to
the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of laws of another jurisdiction. Section 11.11
Submission to Jurisdiction. All Actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (or, if the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware declines to accept
jurisdiction over any Action, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware) and the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts in any such Action and irrevocably waive the defense of an
inconvenient forum or lack of jurisdiction to the maintenance of any such Action. The consents to jurisdiction and venue set forth in this Section 11.11 shall not constitute general consents to service of process in the State of Delaware
and shall have no effect for any purpose except as provided in this paragraph and shall not be deemed to confer rights on any Person other than the parties hereto. Each party hereto agrees that service of process upon such party in any Action
arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be effective if notice is given by overnight courier at the address set forth in Section 11.02 of this Agreement. The parties hereto agree that a final judgment in any such Action shall
be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Law; provided, however, that nothing in the foregoing shall restrict any partys rights to seek any post-judgment
relief regarding, or any appeal from, a final trial court judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that it will not bring or support any action, cause of action, claim, cross-claim or third-party claim of any
kind or description, whether in law or in equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against the Debt Financing Sources in any way relating to this Agreement, the Debt Commitment Letter, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby, including, without limitation, any dispute arising out of or relating in any way to the Debt Financing or the performance thereof, in any forum other than the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, or, if under
applicable law exclusive jurisdiction is vested in the federal courts, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (and the appellate courts thereof), and that the provisions of Section 11.12 relating to the waiver of
jury trial shall apply to any such action, cause of action, claim, cross-claim or third-party claim. Section 11.12 Waiver of
Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE DEBT COMMITMENT LETTER AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY (INCLUDING ANY SUCH CONTROVERSY INVOLVING ANY FINANCING
SOURCE) IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION
DIRECTLY 40
OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE DEBT COMMITMENT LETTER AND ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR
THEREBY (INCLUDING ANY SUCH PROCEEDING AGAINST ANY FINANCING SOURCE). EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD
NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVER, (C) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS
AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 11.12. Section 11.13 Specific
Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage for which monetary relief, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any provision of this Agreement is not performed in accordance with its
specific terms or is otherwise breached, including if the parties hereto fail to take any action required of them hereunder to cause the Closing to occur, and that time is of the essence. The parties acknowledge and agree that (a) the parties
shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, specific performance or other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the right of
the Parent to cause the Membership Interest Purchase Transactions to be consummated on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement) in the courts described in Section 11.11 without proof of damages or otherwise,
this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled under this Agreement and (b) the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of the Membership Interest Purchase Transactions and without that right, neither Parent nor
WHP would have entered into this Agreement. The parties hereto agree not to assert that a remedy of specific enforcement is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to Law or inequitable for any reason, and agree not to assert that a remedy of monetary
damages would provide an adequate remedy or that the parties otherwise have an adequate remedy at law. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any party seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce
specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in accordance with this Section 11.13 shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction. Section 11.14 Counterparts. This Agreement and the Ancillary Documents may be executed in one or more counterparts (including
by facsimile and electronic mail), each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the
parties hereto (including by electronic signature) and delivered to the other parties hereto (including electronically, e.g., in PDF format). [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS] 41
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as
of the Effective Date by their duly authorized officers. [Signature Page to Membership Interest Purchase Agreement]
Exhibit A Form of Contribution Agreement [Intentionally Omitted]
EXHIBIT B Form of Operating Agreement [Intentionally Omitted]
EXHIBIT C Form of License Assignment [Intentionally Omitted]
with a copy to:
(a)
(b)
PARENT:
EXPRESS, INC., a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ Timothy
Baxter
Name: Timothy Baxter
Title: Chief Executive Officer
SELLER:
EXPRESS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
By: /s/ Timothy
Baxter
Name: Timothy Baxter
Title: Chief Executive Officer
WHP:
WH BORROWER, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
By: /s/ Yehuda
Shmidman
Name: Yehuda Shmidman
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 10.3
CERTAIN IDENTIFIED INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS BOTH NOT MATERIAL AND IS THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL. [*****] INDICATES THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN REDACTED OR OMITTED.
EX TOPCO, LLC
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
Dated [], 2023
THE MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH INTERESTS MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF AT ANY TIME WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND LAWS OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE OTHER SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN.
SUCH MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
2 | |||||
Section 1.1 |
Definitions | 2 | ||||
Section 1.2 |
Interpretative Matters | 14 | ||||
ARTICLE II ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS |
16 | |||||
Section 2.1 |
Formation of the Company | 16 | ||||
Section 2.2 |
Name | 16 | ||||
Section 2.3 |
Powers; Purposes | 16 | ||||
Section 2.4 |
Principal Location; Registered Office | 16 | ||||
Section 2.5 |
Term | 16 | ||||
Section 2.6 |
Foreign Qualification | 16 | ||||
Section 2.7 |
Title to Assets | 17 | ||||
Section 2.8 |
Partnership Status | 17 | ||||
Section 2.9 |
Schedules | 17 | ||||
ARTICLE III ADMISSION OF MEMBERS; CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS |
17 | |||||
Section 3.1 |
Capitalization | 17 | ||||
Section 3.2 |
Admission of Members; Additional Members | 18 | ||||
Section 3.3 |
Capital Accounts | 19 | ||||
Section 3.4 |
Negative Capital Accounts | 19 | ||||
Section 3.5 |
No Withdrawal | 19 | ||||
Section 3.6 |
Loans From Members | 19 | ||||
Section 3.7 |
No Right of Partition | 19 | ||||
Section 3.8 |
Transfers of Units | 20 | ||||
Section 3.9 |
Non-Certification of Units; Legend; Units Are Securities | 20 | ||||
ARTICLE IV DISTRIBUTIONS |
20 | |||||
Section 4.1 |
Distributions | 20 | ||||
Section 4.2 |
Successors | 20 | ||||
Section 4.3 |
Distributions In-Kind | 20 | ||||
ARTICLE V ALLOCATIONS |
21 | |||||
Section 5.1 |
Allocations | 21 | ||||
Section 5.2 |
Special Allocations | 21 | ||||
Section 5.3 |
Tax Allocations | 23 | ||||
Section 5.4 |
Members Tax Reporting | 23 | ||||
Section 5.5 |
Withholding, Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member | 23 |
i
ARTICLE VI MEMBERS |
24 | |||||
Section 6.1 |
Lack of Authority of Individual Members | 24 | ||||
Section 6.2 |
No Right of Partition | 25 | ||||
Section 6.3 |
Members Right to Act | 25 | ||||
Section 6.4 |
Liability of Members | 26 | ||||
ARTICLE VII MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY |
26 | |||||
Section 7.1 |
Authority of the Board | 26 | ||||
Section 7.2 |
Composition of the Board | 26 | ||||
Section 7.3 |
Meetings; Quorum; Notice; Written Consent | 27 | ||||
Section 7.4 |
Performance of Duties; Liability of Managers and Officers | 29 | ||||
Section 7.5 |
Indemnification | 30 | ||||
Section 7.6 |
Protective Provisions | 32 | ||||
Section 7.7 |
WHP Transactions | 34 | ||||
Section 7.8 |
Officers | 34 | ||||
Section 7.9 |
Right of First Offer | 35 | ||||
Section 7.10 |
Annual Budget | 36 | ||||
Section 7.11 |
Exclusivity | 37 | ||||
Section 7.12 |
FCPA and Sanctions | 37 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII TAX MATTERS |
37 | |||||
Section 8.1 |
Designation of the Partnership Representative | 37 | ||||
Section 8.2 |
Preparation of Tax Returns | 38 | ||||
Section 8.3 |
Tax Election | 38 | ||||
Section 8.4 |
Tax Controversies | 39 | ||||
ARTICLE IX TRANSFER OF EQUITY SECURITIES; SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS |
39 | |||||
Section 9.1 |
Restrictions on Transfers. | 39 | ||||
Section 9.2 |
Substitute Member | 40 | ||||
Section 9.3 |
Effect of Transfer | 40 | ||||
Section 9.4 |
Transfer Fees and Expenses | 40 | ||||
Section 9.5 |
Closing Date of Transfers | 40 | ||||
Section 9.6 |
Effect of Death or Incapacity | 40 | ||||
Section 9.7 |
Board Consent to Transfer | 40 | ||||
Section 9.8 |
Put / Call Option | 40 | ||||
ARTICLE X INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MATTERS |
41 | |||||
Section 10.1 |
Use of Company IP in the US | 41 | ||||
Section 10.2 |
Use of Company IP Outside the US and Authorized Uses of Company IP | 41 | ||||
Section 10.3 |
Protection, Enforcement and Defense of Company IP | 42 | ||||
ARTICLE XI WINDING UP, DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION |
42 | |||||
Section 11.1 |
Dissolution | 42 | ||||
Section 11.2 |
Liquidation and Termination | 43 | ||||
Section 11.3 |
Complete Distribution | 43 | ||||
Section 11.4 |
Final Dissolution | 44 |
ii
Section 11.5 |
Reasonable Time for Winding Up | 44 | ||||
Section 11.6 |
Return of Capital | 44 | ||||
Section 11.7 |
HSR Act | 44 | ||||
Section 11.8 |
Distribution of Equity Securities of Subsidiaries | 44 | ||||
Section 11.9 |
Termination | 44 | ||||
ARTICLE XII GENERAL PROVISIONS |
44 | |||||
Section 12.1 |
Books and Records | 44 | ||||
Section 12.2 |
Amendment | 45 | ||||
Section 12.3 |
Remedies | 45 | ||||
Section 12.4 |
Successors and Assigns | 45 | ||||
Section 12.5 |
Severability | 45 | ||||
Section 12.6 |
Counterparts | 46 | ||||
Section 12.7 |
Applicable Law | 46 | ||||
Section 12.8 |
Addresses and Notices | 46 | ||||
Section 12.9 |
Creditors | 46 | ||||
Section 12.10 |
Waiver | 47 | ||||
Section 12.11 |
Waiver of Jury Trial | 47 | ||||
Section 12.12 |
Further Action | 47 | ||||
Section 12.13 |
Entire Agreement | 47 | ||||
Section 12.14 |
Delivery by Email | 47 | ||||
Section 12.15 |
Survival | 48 | ||||
Section 12.16 |
Information. | 48 |
iii
SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS
Schedule of Units
Schedule of Members
Contribution Schedule
Exhibit A Closing Capital Contributions and Capital Accounts
Exhibit B Initial Budget
iv
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
EX TOPCO, LLC
This AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this Agreement) of EX TOPCO, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company), is entered into on [], 2023 (the Closing Date), pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, Delaware Code Ann. Title 6, §§18-101, et seq. (the Delaware Act), by and among the Company, EXWHP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (EXWHP), [[],a [],]and Express Inc., a Delaware Corporation (Express). Capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Article I.
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, Express, the Company and WH Borrower, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (WHP), entered into that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement on December [8], 2022 (the Purchase Agreement);
WHEREAS, Express and WHP entered into that certain PIPE Investment Agreement (the Investment Agreement) on December [8], 2022;
WHEREAS, the Company was formed on []as a Delaware limited liability company pursuant to and in accordance with the Delaware Act, as the same may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, and was initially governed by the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated December [], 2022 (the Original Agreement);
WHEREAS, Express and [], entered into that certain Contribution Agreement (the Contribution Agreement) on [], 2023; and
WHEREAS, the members under the Original Agreement desire to amend and restate in its entirety the Original Agreement on the terms and conditions contained herein and to enter into this Company Agreement with the additional members that are parties hereto.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants made herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings for purposes of this Agreement:
1934 Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and applicable rules and regulations thereunder. Any reference herein to a specific section, rule or regulation of the 1934 Act shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future law.
Action means any claim, charge, demand, action, cause of action, inquiry, audit, suit, arbitration, indictment, litigation, hearing or other proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative, judicial or investigative, whether formal or informal, whether public or private).
Additional Member means any Person that has been admitted to the Company as a Member after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 3.2(b) by virtue of having received its Membership Interest from the Company and not from any other Member or assignee of any Units.
Adjusted Capital Account Deficit means, with respect to any Members Capital Account as of the end of any taxable year, the amount by which the balance in such Capital Account is less than zero. For this purpose, such Capital Account balance shall be (i) reduced for any items described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6), and (ii) increased for any amount such Member is obligated to contribute or is treated as being obligated to contribute to the Company pursuant to Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (relating to partner liabilities to a partnership) or 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) (relating to minimum gain).
Affiliate when used with reference to another Person means any Person, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such other Person.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Bankruptcy means, with respect to any Person, the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) the filing of an application by such Person for, or a consent to, the appointment of a trustee or custodian of such Persons assets; (b) the filing by such Person of a voluntary petition in Bankruptcy or the seeking of relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or the filing of a pleading in any court of record admitting in writing such Persons inability to generally pay its debts as they become due; (c) the failure of such Person to pay its debts as such debts become due; (d) the making by such Person of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (e) the filing by such Person of an answer admitting the material allegations of, or such Persons consenting to, or defaulting in answering, a Bankruptcy petition filed against him in any Bankruptcy proceeding or petition seeking relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or as hereafter amended; or (f) the entry of an order, judgment or decree by any court of competent jurisdiction adjudicating such Person as bankrupt or insolvent or for relief in respect of such Person or appointing a trustee or custodian of such Persons assets and the continuance of such order, judgment or decree unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive calendar days.
Board means, as of any date, the then-current board of managers of the Company, which shall have the power and authority described in this Agreement.
Board Deadlock means, with respect to any matter brought before the Board for a vote, a situation pursuant to which a quorum of the Board (as determined pursuant to Section 7.3) consists of two (2) WHP Holders and two (2) Express Holders, and the WHP Holders and the Express Holders fail to approve such matter pursuant to the second sentence of Section 7.3(b).
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Business Day means any calendar day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required to close.
Capital Account has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).
Capital Contributions means any cash, cash equivalents or, at the consent of the Board the Fair Market Value of other property that a Member contributes to the Company with respect to any Unit or other Equity Securities issued pursuant to Section 3.1(a) (net of liabilities assumed by the Company or to which such property is subject).
Certificate of Formation means the certificate of formation of the Company filed with the State of Delaware on [].
Class A Units has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a).
Closing means the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.
Closing Date has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Company has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Company IP means any and all (a) Contributed Assets and (b) other Intellectual Property owned or controlled by the Company as of the Closing Date or any time thereafter.
Company IP Licensee means any Person directly or indirectly authorized or permitted by the Company to use any of the Company IP, whether by license grant or other permission, or to which the Company directly or indirectly grants any right or interest in or to any Company IP; provided that Company IP Licensee shall exclude any member of the Express Group.
Company Minimum Gain has the meaning set forth for the term partnership minimum gain in Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).
Company Sale means the consummation of a transaction, whether in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, that results in (a) the sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person (or group of Persons acting in concert) or (b) a merger of the Company, recapitalization of the Company or other sale (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of equity interests or voting power of the Company to a Person (or group of Persons acting in concert), in each case, that results in any Person (or group of Persons acting in concert) beneficially owning more than 50% of the equity interests or voting power of the Company (or any resulting entity (or ultimate parent thereof) after such transaction), in each case, other than a Transfer of Equity Securities of the Company by the WHP Holder in accordance with Section 9.1(b) or by the Express Holder in accordance with Section 9.1(b).
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Contributed Assets has the meaning set forth in the Contribution Agreement.
Contribution Agreement has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Contribution Schedule has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
Control means, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise and, in any event, without limitation of the previous sentence, any Person owning more than 50% or more of the voting securities of another Person shall be deemed to control that Person.
Convertible Debt Securities means, as applicable, any debt securities directly or indirectly convertible into, or exchangeable for, any capital stock, Company or membership interests in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Covered Person has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5(g).
Delaware Act has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Depreciation has the meaning set forth in the definition of Net Income or Net Loss under paragraph (e) therein.
Distribution means each distribution after the Closing Date made by the Company to a Member, whether in cash, property or securities of the Company.
EBITDA means for any applicable period, the revenues earned by the Company over the applicable period less the operating expenses incurred by the Company over the same applicable period, and calculated in a manner consistent with the Initial Budget.
For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of EBITDA shall not subtract the following items:
(a) Interest expense (net of interest income);
(b) Income taxes and other tax related expenses;
(c) Depreciation & amortization;
(d) Impairment and other asset write-offs;
(e) Non-cash equity compensation;
(f) Gain or loss on the sale of assets;
(g) Amount of any non-controlling or minority interest charges;
(h) Fees, expenses, gains, and losses associated with litigation outside of the ordinary course;
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(i) Gains and losses related to hedging instruments or foreign currency translation; and
(j) Other non-cash items.
EBITDA Margin means the amount of the Companys EBITDA as a percentage of the Companys revenue, in each case, during the applicable period of calculation.
Economic Interest means the right to allocations of items of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or similar items and the right to Distributions of cash and other property as provided in Article IV and Article XI of this Agreement and the Delaware Act, but shall not include any right to participate in the management or affairs of the Company, including the right to vote in the election of the Managers, vote on, consent to or otherwise participate in any decision of the Members, or any right to receive information concerning the business and affairs of the Company, in each case, except as expressly otherwise provided in this Agreement or required by the Delaware Act.
Equity Securities means, as applicable, (a) any capital stock, partnership or membership interests or other share capital; (b) any equity securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock, partnership or membership interests or other share capital or containing any profit participation features; (c) any rights or options directly or indirectly to subscribe for or to purchase any capital stock, partnership or membership interests, other share capital or securities containing any profit participation features or to subscribe for or to purchase any securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock, partnership or membership interests, other share capital or securities containing any profit participation features (including any Convertible Debt Securities); (d) any share appreciation rights, phantom share rights or other similar rights; or (e) any Equity Securities issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clauses (a) through (d) above in connection with a Public Offering, combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization.
Excess Cash means cash held by the Company, directly or indirectly, in excess of the Minimum Cash Reserve.
Express has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Express Change of Control means any transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which any Person, or group of related Persons in the aggregate, acquires or becomes the beneficial owner of, directly or indirectly, (a) more than 50% of the outstanding common stock of Express, whether by merger, liquidation, consolidation, reorganization, combination, sale, tender or exchange offer or otherwise or (b) all or substantially all of Expresss assets, determined on a consolidated basis.
Express Group means Express and its Subsidiaries.
Express Holder means (i) the Express Initial Holder and (ii) any Permitted Transferee of the Express Initial Holder that becomes party hereto or any of their respective successors.
Express Initial Holder means Express.
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Express Managers has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a)(ii).
Fair Market Value means, with respect to any asset or securities, the fair market value for such assets or securities as between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arms length transaction occurring on the date of valuation, taking into account all relevant factors determinative of value, as reasonably determined by the Board in good faith.
federal means the federal government of the United States.
Fiscal Quarters means the fiscal quarters of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Fiscal Year means the fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, ending on December 31 of each calendar year.
Governmental Entity means any multinational, national, federal, territorial, state or local, whether foreign or domestic, governmental entity, quasi-governmental entity, court, tribunal, judicial or arbitral body, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, or any regulatory, administrative or other department, agency, or any political or other subdivision, department or branch of any of the foregoing., in each case, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of the property or other assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Gross Asset Value means, with respect to any asset, the assets adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, except as follows:
(a) the initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the gross Fair Market Value of such asset on the date of the contribution;
(b) the Gross Asset Values of all Company assets may be adjusted to equal their respective gross Fair Market Values as of the following times:
(i) in the discretion of the Board, the acquisition of an additional interest in the Company after the Closing Date by a new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution;
(ii) in the discretion of the Board, the grant of an interest in the Company (other than a de minimis interest) as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Company by an existing or a new Member acting in a partner capacity, or in anticipation of becoming a partner (in each case within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(5)(iii));
(iii) in the discretion of the Board, the Distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of Company property as consideration for an interest in the Company;
(iv) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); and
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(v) such other times as the Board shall reasonably determine to be necessary or advisable in order to comply with Regulations promulgated under Subchapter K of Chapter 1 of the Code.
(c) the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset distributed to a Member shall be adjusted immediately prior to such distribution to equal the gross Fair Market Value of such asset on the date of Distribution;
(d) the Gross Asset Values of Company assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m); provided, however, that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph (d) to the extent that the Board reasonably determines that an adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (b) of this definition of Gross Asset Value is necessary or appropriate in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph (d); and
(e) with respect to any asset that has a Gross Asset Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, Gross Asset Value shall be adjusted by the amount of Depreciation rather than any other depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery method.
Holder Indemnitors has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5(h).
HSR Act has the meaning set forth in Section 11.7.
Income means individual items of Company income and gain determined in accordance with the definitions of Net Income and Net Loss.
Initial Budget has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10.
Initial Public Offering means a Public Offering and sale of Equity Securities of the Company or any successor thereof pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or other applicable foreign securities regulations if immediately thereafter the Company or any successor thereof has publicly held securities listed on a national securities exchange.
Intellectual Property means all Intellectual property and proprietary rights and rights in confidential information of every kind and description throughout the world, including: (a) patents and applications therefor, invention disclosures and all related continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues, re-examinations, substitutions and extensions thereof; (b) fictional business names, corporate names, trade names, logos, slogans, trade dress rights, registered and unregistered trademarks and service marks, Internet domain names, social media accounts, other sources of origin and applications for any of the foregoing, together with all appurtenant goodwill, along with renewals thereof; (c) copyrights and copyrightable subject matter, whether or not registered or published, and registrations, recordations and applications for registration therefor (including copyrights in computer software) and reversions, extensions and renewals thereof; (d) rights in computer programs (whether in source code, object code, or other form), algorithms, databases, compilations and data; (e) rights of publicity; (f) moral rights and rights of attribution and integrity; and (g) trade secrets.
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Investment Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Law means any foreign or domestic, national, federal, territorial, state or local law (including common law), statute, treaty, regulation, ordinance, rule, order, or permit, in each case having the force and effect of law, or any similar form of decision or approval of, or determination by, or any binding interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by, issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put in effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Entity.
License Agreement means that certain License Agreement, effective as of the date hereof, by and between Express and the Company.
Loss means individual items of Company loss and deduction determined in accordance with the definitions of Net Income and Net Loss.
Management Agreement means that certain Management Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between EXWHP (or one of its Affiliates) and the Company.
Manager means a current member of the Board, who, for purposes of the Delaware Act, shall be deemed a manager as defined in the Delaware Act but who shall be subject to the rights and obligations set forth in this Agreement and, to the extent not inconsistent with the rights and obligations set forth in this Agreement, to the rights and obligations set forth in the Delaware Act.
Member means a Member identified on the Schedule of Members as of the Closing Date, or an Additional Member or a Substituted Member who is admitted as a Member in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and applicable Law for so long as such Person continues to hold an Economic Interest in any of the Units.
Member Minimum Gain means minimum gain attributable to Member Nonrecourse Debt determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i).
Member Nonrecourse Debt has the meaning set forth for the term partner nonrecourse debt in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
Membership Interest means, with respect to each Member, such Members Economic Interest and rights as a Member.
Minimum Cash Reserve means $10,000,000.
Net Income or Net Loss means, for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount equal to the Companys taxable income or loss for such Fiscal Year or other period, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in such taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments:
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(a) any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income or Net Loss pursuant to this definition of Net Income or Net Loss shall be added to such taxable income or loss;
(b) any expenditures of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income or Net Loss pursuant to this definition of Net Income or Net Loss shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;
(c) in the event the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (b) or (c) of the definition of Gross Asset Value, the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain (if the adjustment increases the Gross Asset Value of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases the Gross Asset Value of the asset) from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Net Income or Net Loss;
(d) gain or loss resulting from any disposition of property with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the property disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such property differs from its Gross Asset Value;
(e) in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, with respect to a Company asset having a Gross Asset Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes, Depreciation with respect to such asset shall be computed by reference to the assets Gross Asset Value in accordance with Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g); and
(f) to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or 743(b) is required pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(iv)(m) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a Distribution other than in liquidation of a Members interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases the basis of the asset) from the disposition of the asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Net Income or Net Loss.
Officers has the meaning set forth in Section 7.8(a).
Original Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Partnership Representative has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
Partnership Tax Audit Rules means Sections 6221 through 6241 of the Code, as amended by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, together with any Regulations or other guidance issued thereunder, successor provisions and any similar provisions of state, local or any other applicable tax laws.
Passed ROFO Opportunity Cutoff Date means the date that is eighteen (18) months following the Passed ROFO Opportunity Start Date.
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Passed ROFO Opportunity Start Date means (a) if the ROFO Counterparty provides written notice to the ROFO Party that it declines the opportunity to jointly pursue such ROFO Opportunity, the date of receipt of such notice, or (b) within thirty (30) days following its receipt of the ROFO Notice if either (x) the ROFO Counterparty fails to inform the ROFO Party that the ROFO Counterparty desires to jointly pursue the ROFO Opportunity with the ROFO Party or (y) if the ROFO Party and the ROFO Counterparty, after using commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate, fail to enter into a non-binding term sheet on the materials terms and conditions of their joint proposal with respect to such ROFO Opportunity within such thirty (30) day period and the ROFO Party delivers written notice to the ROFO Counterparty that the ROFO Party has made a good faith determination that the parties will not reach an agreement on the terms and conditions of the ROFO Opportunity.
Permitted Transferee means (i) with respect to the WHP Initial Holder (or any other member of the WHP Group), any other member of the WHP Group (other than Affiliates of the WHP Initial Holder who are limited partners or portfolio companies of such Person or its Affiliates) and (ii) with respect to the Express Initial Holder (or any other member of the Express Group), any other member of the Express Group.
Person means an individual, a partnership (including a limited partnership), a corporation, a limited liability company, an exempted company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, association or other entity or a Governmental Entity.
Prohibited Transfer means any Transfer of any Unit or other Equity Securities of the Company by a Member to a Person which (i) may not be effected without registering the securities involved under the Securities Act, (ii) would result in the assets of the Company constituting Plan Assets as such term is defined in the Department of Labor regulations promulgated under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (iii) would cause the Company to be controlled by or be under common control with an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended or to register as an investment company under such Act, (iv) would require any securities of the Company to be registered under the 1934 Act, (v) would cause the Company to be a publicly traded partnership within the meaning of Code Section 7704(d) (and the Regulations promulgated thereunder), (vi) would cause the Company to have more than 100 partners (within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h), including the look-through rule in Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)), (vii) would subject the Company to a withholding obligation under Code Section 1446(f), (viii) would occur after the commencement of a Bankruptcy or (ix) is in violation of this Agreement.
Public Offering means the sale in an underwritten public offering of the Companys Equity Securities (or Equity Securities of any Subsidiary or successor) pursuant to an effective registration statement or similar document filed under the Securities Act or applicable foreign securities regulations.
Purchase Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Put / Call Counterparty has the meaning set forth in Section 9.9
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Put / Call Party has the meaning set forth in Section 9.9
Put / Call Proposal has the meaning set forth in Section 9.9
Quarterly Distribution has the meaning set forth in 0.
Registration Rights Agreement means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Express and the WHP Initial Holder.
Regulations means the regulations, including temporary regulations, promulgated by the United States Treasury Department under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
Regulatory Allocations has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(e).
Retail Opportunity means respect to any apparel, loungewear, athletic or activewear, intimates, outerwear, footwear, beauty or home goods brand in the United States with a significant direct-to-consumer channel (physical store or owned eCommerce) of at least $100 million in annual sales.
ROFO has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a).
ROFO Counterparty has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a).
ROFO Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a).
ROFO Opportunity has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a).
ROFO Party has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a).
ROFO Termination Election has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(c).
Sanctioned Person means any Person that is the subject or target of sanctions or restrictions under Trade Controls, including: (a) any Person listed on any applicable U.S. or non-U.S. sanctions- or export-related restricted party list, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List; or (b) any entity that is, in the aggregate, 50 percent or greater owned, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controlled by a Person or Persons described in clause (a).
Schedule of Members has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
Schedule of Units has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
Securities Act means the United States Securities Act of 1933 and applicable rules and regulations thereunder. Any reference herein to a specific section, rule or regulation of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future law.
state means any state within the United States or the District of Columbia.
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Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or business entity of which (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control any managing member, general partner or analogous controlling Person of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity. For purposes hereof, references to a Subsidiary of any Person shall be given effect only at such times that such Person has one or more Subsidiaries and, unless otherwise indicated, the term Subsidiary refers to a Subsidiary of the Company.
Substituted Member means any Person that has been admitted to the Company as a Member pursuant to Section 9.2 by virtue of such Persons (a) receiving all or a portion of a Membership Interest from a Member or its assignee (and not from the Company) and (b) having complied with the requirements of Section 9.2.
Successor in Interest means any (a) trustee, custodian, receiver or other Person acting in any Bankruptcy or reorganization proceeding with respect to, (b) assignee for the benefit of the creditors of, (c) trustee or receiver, or current or former officer, director or partner, or other fiduciary acting for or with respect to the dissolution, liquidation or termination of, or (d) other Transferee, executor, administrator, committee, legal representative or other successor or assign of, any Member, whether by operation of law or otherwise (including any Person acquiring (whether by merger, consolidation, sale, exchange or otherwise) all or substantially all of the assets or Equity Securities of the Company and its Subsidiaries).
Third Party means any Person other than the Company or its Subsidiaries.
Trade Controls means all U.S. and non-U.S. Laws relating to (a) economic, trade, and financial sanctions, including those administered and enforced by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, and the United Nations, (b) export, import, reexport, transfer, and retransfer controls, including those administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the United Nations, (c) antiboycott requirements, and (d) the prevention of money laundering.
Transaction Documents means this Agreement, the Investment Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Purchase Agreement, the License Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, and all other documents, certificates or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Investment Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement, the Purchase Agreement, the License Agreement or the Contribution Agreement.
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Transactions means the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
Transfer means any direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment, offer, pledge, charge, mortgage, exchange, hypothecation, grant of participation interest in, grant of a security interest or other direct or indirect disposition or encumbrance of legal title to or any beneficial interest in Equity Securities (all of the foregoing, whether with or without consideration, whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by operation of law). The terms Transferee, Transferor, Transferred, Transferring and other forms of the word Transfer shall have the correlative meanings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any pledging of Units by the WHP Holder or the Express Holder to any lenders for its debt financing purposes shall not be deemed to be a Transfer for purposes of this Agreement.
Unit has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a).
US means the United States, including its territories and possessions, and its military bases anywhere in the world.
use (or any of its correlative terms, including using) means, with respect to any Company IP or any other Intellectual Property, the use, exploitation, or commercialization of, or exercise of any rights under, any such Company IP or other Intellectual Property.
WHP has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
WHP Change of Control means any transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which any Person, or group of related Persons in the aggregate, acquires or becomes the beneficial owner of, directly or indirectly, (a) more than 50% of the outstanding equity securities of WHP, whether by merger, liquidation, consolidation, reorganization, combination, sale, tender or exchange offer or otherwise or (b) all or substantially all of the assets of WHP, determined on a consolidated basis.
WHP Group means WHP and its Controlled Affiliates.
WHP Holder means (a) the WHP Initial Holder and (b) any Permitted Transferee of the WHP Initial Holder that becomes party hereto or any of their respective successors.
WHP Initial Holder means EXWHP.
WHP Managers has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a)(i).
WHP Transaction means any transaction, agreement or arrangement (including any termination of, or amendment or modification of the terms of, any transaction, agreement or arrangement) between (a) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and (b) WHP or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand; provided, that (i) the Management Agreement, but not any amendments, modifications or waivers of the Management Agreement, shall be deemed to have been approved by the Managers holding a majority of the votes of all Managers then serving on the Board and (ii) the following transactions shall not be considered WHP Transactions:
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(a) any exercise, assignment or transfer of any rights granted, or any transaction otherwise subject to limitations, restrictions, procedures or other provisions, as applicable, as described in any of the Transaction Documents (including (i) any right to appoint, elect, remove, designate, or vote for, any member of the Board or of the board of directors or board of managers of any of the Companys Subsidiaries, or any committee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) the issuance or transfer of any Units in compliance with the requirements, as applicable, of this Agreement and (iii) any exercise of rights pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement). Any such rights will be subject to the limitations, restrictions, procedures or other provisions in such Transaction Document;
(b) if approved by the Board, the payment of reasonable and customary compensation and fees to any member of the Board or of the board of directors or board of managers of any of the Companys Subsidiaries who is not an employee, officer, director, individual service provider or Affiliate of WHP;
(c) the reimbursement of reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses of members of the Board or of the board of directors or board of managers of any of the Companys Subsidiaries incurred in connection with their respective duties on any such board;
(d) the extension of any rights under any directors and officers insurance policy of the Company or its Subsidiaries to any member of the Board or Officer or any member of the board of directors or board of managers of, or any officer of, any of the Companys Subsidiaries on substantially similar terms to those provided to all other members of such governing bodies or officers, as applicable;
(e) any transactions expressly permitted by the License Agreement; and
(f) the provision of customary exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses with respect to indemnification to representatives of WHP and its Affiliates pursuant to Section 7.5 or any similar provision of any of the Subsidiaries governing documents.
Section 1.2 Interpretative Matters. In this Agreement, unless otherwise specified or where the context otherwise requires:
(a) the headings of particular provisions of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not be construed as a part of this Agreement or serve as a limitation or expansion on the scope of any term or provision of this Agreement;
(b) words importing any gender shall include other genders;
(c) words importing the singular only shall include the plural and vice versa;
(d) the words include, includes or including shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation;
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(e) the words hereof, herein and herewith and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement;
(f) references to Articles, Exhibits, Sections or Schedules shall be to Articles, Exhibits, Sections or Schedules of or to this Agreement;
(g) references to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of such Person;
(h) the use of the words or, either and any shall not be exclusive;
(i) wherever a conflict exists between this Agreement and any other agreement, this Agreement shall control but solely to the extent of such conflict;
(j) references to $ or dollars means the lawful currency of the United States of America;
(k) the word extent in the phrase to the extent shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply if;
(l) references to written or in writing include in electronic form;
(m) provisions shall apply, when appropriate, to successive events and transactions;
(n) any reference to days means calendar days unless Business Days are expressly specified;
(o) when calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded and if the day at the end of the period is not a Business Day, then the period shall end on the close of the next immediately following Business Day;
(p) references to any agreement, contract or schedule or law, unless otherwise stated, are to such agreement, contract or schedule or law as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and
(q) the parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement; accordingly, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.
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ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
Section 2.1 Formation of the Company. The Company was formed on December [], 2022 as a Delaware limited liability company under the Delaware Act. Effective upon the execution of this Agreement, the rights and liabilities of the Members shall be determined pursuant to the Delaware Act and this Agreement; provided, that to the extent of any inconsistency between this Agreement and waivable or non-mandatory provisions of the Delaware Act, then this Agreement shall govern.
Section 2.2 Name. The name of the Company shall be EXP Topco, LLC or such other name or names as the Board may designate from time to time.
Section 2.3 Powers; Purposes.
(a) General Powers. The Company shall have all of the powers of a Delaware limited Company, including the power to engage in any lawful act or activity for which the Company may be organized under the Delaware Act.
(b) Purposes. The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Company is to, directly or indirectly, acquire, own and manage the Company IP. The Company may engage in any and all activities necessary, desirable or incidental to the accomplishment of the foregoing.
Section 2.4 Principal Location; Registered Office. The Companys registered office is []. The principal office of the Company shall be located at such place (whether inside or outside the State of Delaware) as the Board may from time to time designate. The Company may have such other offices (whether inside or outside the State of Delaware) in the United States or any other country as the Board may from time to time designate. The registered office and registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be the office of the initial registered office and registered agent set forth in the Certificate of Formation or such other office as the Board may from time to time designate. The Board may change the registered office or registered agent from time to time by (a) filing the address of the new registered office or the name of the new registered agent with the Delaware Secretary of State pursuant to the Delaware Act and (b) giving notice of such change to each of the Members.
Section 2.5 Term. The term of the Company commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Formation in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until termination and dissolution of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Article XI.
Section 2.6 Foreign Qualification. Subject to the limitations set forth herein regarding situations in which the approval of the Members is required by the terms of this Agreement, (a) the Board shall cause the Company to be qualified or registered under foreign entity related statutes or assumed or fictitious name statutes or similar Laws in any jurisdiction in which the Company owns property or transacts business to the extent such qualification or registration is necessary or advisable in order to protect the limited liability of the Members or to permit the Company lawfully to own property or engage in business and (b) in connection with the immediately foregoing, any officer appointed pursuant to Section 7.8 may execute, deliver and file any certificates (and any amendment or restatement thereof) necessary for the Company to qualify to do business in a jurisdiction in which the Company is permitted to conduct business pursuant to this Agreement.
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Section 2.7 Title to Assets. Title to Company assets shall be in the name of the Company. The Members shall not have any interest in any specific assets of the Company. The interest of the Members in the Company is personal property.
Section 2.8 Partnership Status. The Members intend that the Company not be a joint venture, and that no Member be a joint venturer of any other Member by virtue of this Agreement for any purpose, that this Agreement is personal to each of them and shall be treated as a personal service contract for all purposes, including in connection with a Bankruptcy proceeding and neither this Agreement nor any other document entered into by the Members relating to the subject matter hereof shall be construed to suggest otherwise. The Members intend that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for federal, state, and local income tax purposes, and each Member and the Company shall file all tax returns and shall otherwise take all tax and financial reporting positions and actions in a manner consistent with such treatment.
Section 2.9 Schedules.
(a) The Board shall keep or cause to be kept the Schedule of Members in accordance with Section 3.2(a).
(b) The Board shall also keep or cause to be kept the Contribution Schedule in accordance with Section 3.2(a).
ARTICLE III
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS; CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS
Section 3.1 Capitalization.
(a) Units: Initial Capitalization. Each Members interest in the Company, including such Members Economic Interest shall be represented by units of membership interests (each a Unit). The Company shall initially have one (1) authorized type of Units: Class A Units (the Class A Units). The aggregate number of Class A Units authorized for issuance shall be [500,000,000], all of which shall be voting Class A Units (as adjusted for any Unit dividend, Unit split, reverse Unit split or other proportional subdivision or combination of the Class A Units). The Company has issued as of the Closing Date 10,000,000 Class A Units to those Persons set forth on the Schedule of Members. The ownership by a Member of Units shall invest such Member with the Economic Interest therein (except to the extent Transferred to an assignee as permitted by this Agreement) and the governance rights set forth in this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, Units held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed not to be outstanding. The Company may issue fractional Units, and all Units shall be rounded to the fourth decimal place.
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(b) Issuance of Additional Units. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.6 and Section 12.2, the Board shall have the right to cause the Company to issue at any time after the Closing Date, and for such amount and form of consideration as the Board may determine, additional Units (of existing classes or new classes) or other Equity Securities of the Company (including creating other classes or series thereof having such powers, designations, preferences and rights as may be determined by the Board), and in connection therewith, and, subject to the provisions of Section 7.6 and Section 12.2, the Board shall have the power to make amendments to this Agreement as the Board in its discretion deems necessary or appropriate to give effect to such additional issuance.
(c) Recapitalization or Exchange of Units. Any recapitalization or exchange of Units (by Unit split or otherwise) or combination (by reverse Unit split or otherwise) of any particular class or series of outstanding Units shall be made contemporaneously to all classes and series of outstanding Units.
Section 3.2 Admission of Members; Additional Members.
(a) Schedule of Units; Schedule of Members. The Company shall maintain and keep at its principal location (i) a Schedule of Units on which it shall set forth the aggregate number of Units of each class and the aggregate amount of cash Capital Contributions that have been made by each Member and the Fair Market Value of any property other than cash contributed by each Member with respect to the Units (including, if applicable, a description and the amount of any liability assumed by the Company or to which contributed property is subject), and (ii) a register of Membership interests (the Schedule of Members) in which the Board may record such particulars relating to each Member (and previous Member) as it may deem appropriate on which it shall set forth the names and address of each Member, the date upon which such Person became a Member and (if applicable), the date upon which such Person ceased to be a Member. The Company shall also maintain a schedule setting forth the name and address of each Member, the number of Units of each class owned by such Member and the amount and date of the Capital Contributions that have been made by such Member with respect to such Members Units and the amount and date of any repayment representing a return of the whole or any part of the contribution of any Member (the Contribution Schedule). A Member shall automatically cease to be a Member upon Transfer of all of such Members Units in accordance with this Agreement and the transferee shall not become a Member until admitted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Additional Members. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.6 and Section 12.2, in connection with a Transfer or issuance of Units in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Board shall have the right to admit Additional Members. A Person may be admitted to the Company as an Additional Member upon furnishing to the Board (i) a joinder agreement, in form satisfactory to the Board, pursuant to which such Person agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and (ii) such other documents or instruments as may be necessary or appropriate to effect such Persons admission as a Member (including entering into an investor representation agreement or such other documents as the Board may deem appropriate). Such admission shall become effective on the date on which the Board determines that such conditions have been satisfied and when any such admission is shown on the books and records of the Company. Upon the admission of an Additional Member, the Schedule of Members, Schedule of Units and the Contribution Schedule shall each be amended to reflect the name, address and Units and other interests in the Company of such Additional Member.
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Section 3.3 Capital Accounts.
(a) The Company shall maintain a separate capital account for each Member according to the rules of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) (each a Capital Account). The Capital Account of each Member shall be credited initially with an amount equal to such Members cash contributions and the initial Gross Asset Value of any property contributed to the Company by the Member (net of any liabilities securing such contributed property that the Company is considered to assume or take subject to) as of the Closing Date. The Capital Account of each Member as of immediately after the Closing is shown on Exhibit C.
(b) The Capital Account of each Member shall (i) be credited with all Income allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.1 and Section 5.2, and with the amount equal to such Members cash contributions and the initial Gross Asset Value of any property contributed to the Company by the Member (net of any liabilities securing such contributed property that the Company is considered to assume or take subject to) following the Closing Date, and (ii) be debited with all Loss allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.1 and Section 5.2, and with the amount of cash and the Gross Asset Value of any property (net of liabilities assumed by such Member and liabilities to which such property is subject) distributed by the Company to such Member.
(c) The Company may, upon the occurrence of the events specified in the definition of Gross Asset Value, increase or decrease the Capital Accounts of the Member in accordance with the Regulations to reflect a revaluation of Company property.
Section 3.4 Negative Capital Accounts; No Additional Required Capital Contributions. No Member shall be required to pay to any other Member or the Company any deficit or negative balance that may exist from time to time in such Members Capital Account (including upon and after the winding up and dissolution of the Company). No Member shall be required to make any additional Capital Contributions to the Company for any reason.
Section 3.5 No Withdrawal. No Member shall be entitled to withdraw any part of such Members Capital Contributions or Capital Account or to receive any Distribution from the Company, except as expressly provided herein.
Section 3.6 Loans From Members. Loans by Member to the Company shall not be considered Capital Contributions. If any Member shall loan funds to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including Section 7.6), then the making of such loans shall not result in any increase in the Capital Account balance of such Member. The amount of any such loans shall be a debt of the Company to such Member and shall be payable or collectible in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such loans are made.
Section 3.7 No Right of Partition. No Member shall have the right to seek or obtain partition by court decree or operation of law of any property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the right to own or use particular or individual assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, be entitled to Distributions of specific assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
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Section 3.8 Transfers of Units. No Member or holder of Units, nor any spouse or legal representative of a Member or holder of Units, may Transfer all or any portion of such Members Units, except as expressly permitted by and in compliance with Article IX and in compliance with Section 3.2. Each of the Members agrees that the restrictions contained in this Agreement are fair and reasonable and in the best interest of the Company and the Members.
Section 3.9 Non-Certification of Units; Legend; Units Are Securities. Units shall be issued in non-certificated form; provided, that the Board may cause the Company to issue certificates to a Member representing the Units held by such Member. If any Unit certificate is issued, then such certificate shall bear a legend substantially in the following form:
THIS CERTIFICATE EVIDENCES A UNIT REPRESENTING A MEMBERSHIP INTEREST IN EXTOPCO, LLC.
THE MEMBERSHIP INTEREST IN EXTOPCO, LLC REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THAT CERTAIN AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF EXTOPCO, LLC, DATED [], BY AND AMONG EXTOPCO, LLC, AND EACH OF THE MEMBERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY THERETO, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.
ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 4.1 Distributions. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.3 and applicable Law, the Company shall distribute all Excess Cash as of the end of each Fiscal Quarter to the Members as promptly as reasonably practicable following the end of such Fiscal Quarter (each, a Quarterly Distribution). All Distributions made pursuant to this Agreement shall be made to the Members holding Class A Units (ratably among such Members based upon their respective number of Class A Units held by such holders as of immediately prior to such Distribution), subject to [Section 16] of the License Agreement.
Section 4.2 Successors. For purposes of determining the amount of Distributions, each Member shall be treated as having made the Capital Contributions and as having received the Distributions made to or received by its predecessors in respect of any of such Members Units.
Section 4.3 Distributions In-Kind. To the extent that the Company distributes property in-kind to the Members, the Company shall be treated as making a Distribution equal to the Fair Market Value of such property for purposes of Section 4.1. Any resulting hypothetical Income or Loss pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of Gross Asset Value shall be allocated to the Capital Accounts of the Members in accordance with Sections 5.1 and 5.2.
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ARTICLE V
ALLOCATIONS
Section 5.1 Allocations. Except as otherwise provided in, and after giving effect to, Section 5.2, Net Income and Net Loss (and, if necessary, individual items of Income and Loss) shall be allocated annually (and at such other times as the Board reasonably determines) to the Members in such manner that the positive Capital Account (increased by any amounts such Member is obligated to restore pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-2) balance of each Member shall, to the greatest extent possible, be equal to the amount that would be distributed to such Member (after satisfaction of any financial obligations of each Member to the Company under any provisions of this Agreement), if (a) the Company were to sell the assets of the Company in a Company Sale for their Gross Asset Values, (b) all Company liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the Gross Asset Values of the assets securing such liability), (c) the Company were to distribute the remaining proceeds of sale pursuant to Section 4.1 or liquidation pursuant to Section 11.2 and (d) the Company were to dissolve pursuant to Article XI.
Section 5.2 Special Allocations.
(a) Loss attributable to Member Nonrecourse Debt shall be allocated in the manner required by Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). If there is a net decrease during a taxable year in Member Minimum Gain, Income for such taxable year (and, if necessary, for subsequent taxable years) shall be allocated to the Members in the amounts and of such character as is determined according to Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). This Section 5.2(a) is intended to be a partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain chargeback provision that complies with the requirements of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4), and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.2(a), if there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during any taxable year, each Member shall be allocated Income for such taxable year (and, if necessary, for subsequent taxable years) in the amounts and of such character as is determined according to Regulations Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 5.2(b) is intended to be a minimum gain chargeback provision that complies with the requirements of Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.
(c) If any Member that unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or distribution described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6) has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as of the end of any taxable year, computed after the application of Section 5.2(a) and Section 5.2(b) but before the application of any other provision of Section 5.1 and Section 5.2, then Income for such taxable year shall be allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as quickly as possible. This Section 5.2(c) is intended to be a qualified income offset provision as described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.
(d) Adjustments to Gross Asset Values of Company assets described in clause (d) of the definition of Gross Asset Value shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the manner that the adjustments to the Capital Accounts are required to be made pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m).
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(e) The allocations set forth in Section 5.2(a) through Section 5.2(d) inclusive (the Regulatory Allocations) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Section 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 of the Regulations. The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Members intend to allocate items of Income and Loss of the Company or to make Distributions. Accordingly, notwithstanding the other provisions of Sections 5.1 and 5.2, but subject to the Regulatory Allocations, items of Income and Loss of the Company shall be allocated among the Member so as to eliminate the effect of the Regulatory Allocations and thereby cause the respective Capital Account balances of the Members to be in the amounts (or as close thereto as possible) they would have been if Income and Loss had been allocated without reference to the Regulatory Allocations. In general, the Members anticipate that this shall be accomplished by specially allocating other Income and Loss among the Members so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of Regulatory Allocations and such special allocations to each such Member is zero.
(f) Upon the exercise of a noncompensatory option (as defined in Regulations Section 1.721-2(f)), then the applicable Member(s) shall be allocated Income or Loss for such taxable year according to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s).
(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, any item of income, gain, loss or deduction which is specially allocated pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall not be taken into account for purposes of computing Net Income or Net Loss.
(h) All matters concerning the computation of Capital Accounts, the allocation of Net Income (or items thereof) and Net Loss (or items thereof) for Capital Account purposes, the allocation of items of Company income, gain, loss, deduction and expense for tax purposes and the adoption of any accounting methods or procedures not expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement shall be determined by the WHP Holder in its reasonable discretion. Absent manifest error, such determinations shall be final and conclusive as to all the Members. Without in any way limiting the scope of the foregoing, if and to the extent that, for any tax purposes, any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or expense of any Member or the Company is constructively attributed to, respectively, the Company or any Member, or any contribution to or distribution by the Company or any payment by any Member or the Company is recharacterized, the WHP Holder may, in its reasonable discretion, specially allocate items of Company income, gain, loss, deduction and expense or make correlative adjustments to the Capital Accounts of the Members in a manner so that the net amount of income, gain, loss, deduction and expense realized by each relevant party (after taking into account such special allocations) and the net Capital Account balances of the Members (after taking into account such special allocations and adjustments) shall, as nearly as possible, be equal, respectively, to the amount of income, gain, loss, deduction and expense that would have been realized by each relevant party and the Capital Account balances of the Members that would have existed if such attribution or recharacterization and the application of this sentence of this Section 5.2(h) had not occurred.
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Section 5.3 Tax Allocations.
(a) The income, gains, losses and deductions of the Company shall be allocated for federal, state and local income tax purposes among the Member in accordance with the allocation of such income, gains, losses and deductions among the Member for purposes of computing their Capital Accounts; except that if any such allocation is not permitted by the Code or other applicable Law, then the Companys subsequent income, gains, losses and deductions for tax purposes shall be allocated among the Members so as to reflect as nearly as possible the allocation set forth herein in computing their Capital Accounts.
(b) Items of Company taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Company shall be allocated among the Member in accordance with Code Section 704(c) so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its Gross Asset Value. The Board shall have the authority to select, in its reasonable discretion, any method of making such allocations that is allowed under Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder; provided, however, that the Board shall make such allocations using the traditional method under Regulations Section 1.704-3(b) with respect to any property contributed to the Company pursuant to the Contribution Agreement unless otherwise agreed by the Members in writing.
(c) Tax credits, tax credit recapture and any items related thereto shall be allocated to the Members according to their interests in such items as reasonably determined by the Board taking into account the principles of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii).
(d) Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.3 are solely for the purposes of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Members Capital Account or share of Income, Loss, Distributions or other Company items pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
Section 5.4 Members Tax Reporting. The Members acknowledge and are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made pursuant to this Article V and, except as may otherwise be required by applicable Law or regulatory requirements, hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this Article V in reporting their shares of Company income, gain, loss, deduction and credit for federal, state and local income tax purposes.
Section 5.5 Withholding, Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member.
(a) General. The Company may withhold and remit to a Governmental Entity any taxes with respect to any Member, and any such taxes may be withheld from any distribution otherwise payable to such Member. Taxes withheld on amounts directly or indirectly payable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is treated as a pass-through entity and taxes otherwise paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is treated as a pass-through entity shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as distributed to the appropriate Members and paid by the appropriate Members to the relevant Governmental Entity. If the Company is required by applicable Law to make or is subject to any payment to a Governmental Entity that is specifically attributable to a Member or a Members status as such (including withholding taxes, state or local personal property taxes and state or local unincorporated business taxes), then such Member shall
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indemnify the Company in full for the entire amount paid (including interest, penalties and related expenses). No such indemnification will be considered a Capital Contribution for purposes of this Agreement. A Members obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 5.5 shall survive the Members Transfer of any Unit or other Equity Securities of the Company and the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company, and for purposes of this Section 5.5, the Company shall be treated as continuing in existence. The Company may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies it may have against each Member under this Section 5.5, including instituting a lawsuit to collect such indemnification, with interest calculated at a rate equal to 5 percentage points per annum (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by applicable Law).
(b) If and to the extent that the Company shall be required to withhold or pay any withholding or other taxes pursuant to Section 5.5(a), such Member shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement to have received a payment from the Company as of the time such withholding or other tax is required to be paid, which payment shall be deemed to be a Distribution pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.1 with respect to such Members Membership Interest to the extent that such Member (or successor) would have received a distribution but for such withholding. In addition, if and to the extent that the Company receives a distribution or payment from or in respect of which tax was withheld, as a result of (or attributable to) such Members status as a Member hereunder, such Member shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement to have received a distribution from the Company as described in the prior sentence. To the extent that the aggregate of such payments made on behalf of a Member for any period exceeds the distributions that such Member would have received for such period but for such withholding, the Board shall notify such Member as to the amount of such excess and such Member shall make a prompt payment to the Company of such amount by wire transfer. Any withholdings by the Company referred to in this Section 5.5(b) shall be made at the maximum applicable statutory rate under the applicable tax law. This Section 5.5(b) shall survive the dissolution and termination of the Company, the withdrawal of any Member from the Company and any Transfer of a Members Units or other Equity Securities of the Company.
(c) For the avoidance of doubt, any taxes, penalties and interest payable under the Partnership Tax Audit Rules by the Company shall be treated as specifically attributable to the Member of the Company, and the Partnership Representative shall use commercially reasonable efforts to allocate the burden of (or any diminution in distributable proceeds resulting from) any such taxes, penalties or interest to those Member to whom such amounts are specifically attributable (whether as a result of their status, actions, inactions or otherwise), as reasonably determined.
ARTICLE VI
MEMBERS
Section 6.1 Lack of Authority of Individual Members. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no Member shall in its capacity as a Member have the authority or power to act for or on behalf of the Company in any manner, to do any act that would be (or could be construed as) binding on the Company or to make any expenditure on behalf of the Company.
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Section 6.2 No Right of Partition. Except as set forth in Section 11.2 or pursuant to a license granted to a Member pursuant to Article XI, no Member shall have the right to seek or obtain partition by court decree or operation of law of any of the Companys property, or, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, be entitled to the distribution of particular or individual assets of the Company.
Section 6.3 Members Right to Act. For situations in which the approval of the Members is required pursuant to this Agreement or a non- waivable provision of the Delaware Act, the Members shall act through written consent or meetings as set forth in Section 6.3(a) and Section 6.3(b). Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, any action (including the giving of consent, waivers or approvals) by the Members shall require the affirmative vote of, or written consent signed by, the Members holding a majority of the Units. Except for the voting, approval and consent rights of the Members expressly provided in this Agreement and the non-waivable provisions of the Delaware Act, none of the Members shall have any voting, approval or consent rights under this Agreement or the Delaware Act, and each Member expressly waives any consent, approval or voting rights that are not expressly provided in this Agreement and any other rights to participate in the governance of the Company, whether such rights may be provided under the Delaware Act or otherwise.
(a) Action by the Members at Meetings; Meetings by Telephone Conference.
(i) The actions taken by the Members at any meeting (as opposed to by written consent), however called and however notice has been given, shall be as valid as though taken at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if (but not until), either before, at or after the meeting, the Members as to whom it was improperly held sign a written waiver of notice or a consent to the holding of such meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof.
(ii) Subject to the requirements of the Delaware Act, the Certificate of Formation and this Agreement, the Members may participate in and hold a meeting of the Members by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all individuals participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in such meeting shall constitute attendance and presence in person at such meeting, except where a Member participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
(b) Action by the Members via Written Consent. Any action permitted or required by the Delaware Act, the Certificate of Formation, or this Agreement to be taken at a meeting of the Members may be taken without a meeting, without notice and without a vote if a consent in writing, setting forth the action to be taken, is signed by all Members and, when so signed, such written consent shall constitute Member approval of such action. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a vote at a meeting and may be stated as such in any document or instrument filed with the Delaware Secretary of State, and the execution of such consent shall constitute attendance or presence in person at a meeting of the Members.
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Section 6.4 Liability of Members. Except as otherwise required by any applicable Law that may not be waived by the Company or a Member or as expressly set forth in this Agreement, no Member shall have any personal liability whatsoever in such Members capacity as a Member, whether to the Company, to any of the other Members, to the creditors of the Company or to any other third Person for the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise (including those arising as a Unitholder or an equityholder, an owner or a shareholder of another Person). Each Member shall be liable only to make such Members Capital Contributions to the Company, if applicable, and the other payments provided for expressly herein, in each case, in accordance with the applicable terms of this Agreement and any Transaction Document to which it is a party.
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY
Section 7.1 Authority of the Board. Except for situations in which (a) the approval of the Members or any specific Member is required by this Agreement or the Delaware Act or (b) the authority of the Board is otherwise limited by the terms of this Agreement, and in each case subject to the other provisions of this Article VII, the Board shall direct and exercise full supervisory control over all activities of the Company, and have the power to bind or take any action on behalf of the Company within its scope and in accordance with this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, no individual Manager acting in his capacity as a manager shall have the authority to bind the Company except as a member of the Board acting collectively as the Board, and all actions by the Managers shall be taken collectively as the Board, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement.
Section 7.2 Composition of the Board.
(a) Subject to Section 7.6, the total number of members that comprise the Board shall be established by the Board from time to time. The Board shall be initially comprised of five (5) Managers:
(i) three (3) persons designated by the WHP Holder (the WHP Managers), who shall initially be Yehuda Shmidman, Effy Zinkin and Stanley Silverstein; and
(ii) two (2) persons designated by the Express Holder (the Express Managers), who shall initially be Timothy Baxter and Matthew Moellering.
(b) Each Manager shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote with respect to each matter brought before the Board (or any committee of the Board) for a vote.
(c) Any committees of the Board or the board of managers (or equivalent) of each of the Companys Subsidiaries shall be created only upon the approval of the Board, and the composition of each such committee shall be determined by the Board; provided that each such committee shall include at least (1) Express Manager.
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(d) In the event that any Express Manager is unable to attend a meeting of the Board for any reason, such Express Manager hereby authorizes the other Express Manager to act for such absent Express Manager by proxy and grants him or her the right to vote on, consent to or otherwise participate in any act of the Board. In the event that any WHP Manager is unable to attend a meeting of the Board for any reason, such WHP Manager hereby authorizes the other WHP Managers to act for such absent WHP Manager by proxy and grants them (pro rata) the right to vote on, consent to or otherwise participate in any act of the Board. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, such proxy shall also be effective for purposes of establishing a quorum pursuant to Section 7.3(b).
(e) Any Member shall be removed from the Board or any committee thereof with cause or at the written request of the Member(s) that have the right to designate such Manager hereunder, but only upon such written request and under no other circumstances. If any Manager designated hereunder ceases to serve as a member of the Board during his or her term of office, then the resulting vacancy on the Board shall be filled by a representative designated by the Member(s) that have the right to designate the Manager who ceases to serve.
(f) The Company shall reimburse, upon presentation of appropriate substantiating documentation and in accordance with any policies from time to time established by the Company, all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with the performance of his or her duties as a member thereof (including his or her attendance at any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof). No member of the Board shall be entitled to receive any cash compensation for his or her services on the Board (other than expense reimbursement pursuant to the immediately foregoing sentence).
(g) If any party fails to designate a representative to fill a Manager position pursuant to the terms of this Section 7.2, such position shall remain vacant until such party exercises its right to designate a Manager hereunder.
Section 7.3 Meetings; Quorum; Notice; Written Consent.
(a) Meetings of the Board shall be held at least once per calendar quarter and may be held with forty-eight (48) hours notice to each Manager at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Managers holding a majority of the voting power of the Board; provided, the Person(s) calling any such meeting shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide at least seventy-two (72) hours notice of such meeting to each Manager; and, provided further, that the Company shall make such meeting available electronically pursuant to Section 7.3(e).
(b) Directors having at least a majority of the voting power of the Board (including at least two (2) WHP Managers and at least one (1) Express Manager) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Subject to Section 7.6 and Section 7.10, the vote of the Managers holding a majority of the voting power of all Managers present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, the Managers present at such meeting shall adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. Except as expressly set forth herein (including with respect to any matters set forth in Section 7.6), in the event of a Board Deadlock, the WHP Managers shall have the controlling vote on such matter.
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(c) The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Managers, which to the extent provided in such resolution or this Agreement shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in the management and affairs of the Company except as otherwise limited by law. The Board may designate one or more Managers as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Such committee(s) shall have such name(s) as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required. This Section 7.3(c) is qualified in all respects by the terms set forth in Section 7.2(c).
(d) Each committee of the Board may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of members of the committee representing a majority of the voting power of all members of such committee (including at least two (2) WHP Managers and at least one (1) Express Manager) shall be necessary to constitute a quorum.
(e) A member of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in and act at any meeting of such Board or committee through the use of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in the meeting pursuant to this Section 7.3 shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
(f) Any member of the Board or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting shall be conclusively presumed to have waived notice of such meeting except when such member attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Such member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented to any action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall be forwarded by (i) email if a customary confirmation of transmission is received (such confirmation not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (ii) reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid), or (iii) registered mail, in each case, to the secretary of the Company immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to any member who voted in favor of such action.
(g) Subject in all cases to Section 7.6 and Section 7.10, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting by unanimous consent of the Managers in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing(s) or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee, as applicable.
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Section 7.4 Performance of Duties; Liability of Managers and Officers.
(a) In performing his or her duties, each Manager shall be entitled to rely in good faith on the provisions of this Agreement and on information, opinions, reports or statements (including financial statements and information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value or amount of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Members might properly be made), of the following other Persons or groups: (i) one or more officers or employees of any of the Companys Subsidiaries, (ii) any attorney, independent accountant, financial advisor, consultant or other Person employed or engaged by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) any other Person who has been selected by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, as to matters which such relying Person reasonably believes to be within such other Persons professional or expert competence.
(b) No individual who is a director, officer, employee, member, partner or direct or indirect owner of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any combination of the foregoing, shall be personally liable under any judgment of a court, or in any other manner, for any debt, obligation or liability of the Company, whether that liability or obligation arises in contract, tort or otherwise solely by reason of being a director, officer, employee, member, partner or direct or indirect owner of the Company or any combination of the foregoing.
(c) No director, officer, employee, member, partner or direct or indirect owner of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any combination of the foregoing, shall be liable to the Company or any Member for any act or omission, including any mistake of fact or error in judgment taken, suffered or made by such Person in good faith and with the belief that such act or omission is in or is not contrary to the best interests of the Company and is within the scope of authority granted to such Person, provided, that such act or omission does not constitute fraud, willful misconduct, or gross negligence (as defined under Delaware law) in the conduct of such Persons office.
(d) To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, including Section 18-1101 of the Delaware Act, or in equity, to the extent that, at law or in equity, subject to, and as limited by the provisions of this Agreement, an Officer or Manager, in the performance of his or her duties as such, owes to the Company and its Members duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, a Member or any other Person, such Officers or Managers duties are irrevocably waived, released and eliminated, including as may result from a conflict of interest between the Company or such Subsidiary and such Person. Each Member acknowledges and agrees that in connection with such waiver, including as may result from a conflict of interest, each such Person may act in his, her or its own best interests (including his, her or its interests as a member or employee of a Member or any Affiliate of a Member). With respect to any waived conflict of interest, no Manager or Officer shall be obligated to recommend or take any action that prefers the interests of the Company or any Subsidiary over the interests of such Manager or Officer or the Members.
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Section 7.5 Indemnification.
(a) Third Party Actions, Suits and Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify each Member, the Partnership Representative, each officer and manager (or equivalent) (including any Manager) of the Company and its Subsidiaries and any other Person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in or participates as a witness with respect to any Action (other than an Action by or in the right of the Company), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a Person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was an officer or Manager of the Company or of its Subsidiaries, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a manager, director or officer of another company or of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against all expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with such Action if (i) such Person acted in good faith and in a manner such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, (ii) any of such Persons actions does not constitute fraud, willful misconduct, gross negligence (as defined under Delaware law) or a breach of such Persons duty of loyalty and (iii) with respect to any criminal Action, such Person had no reasonable cause to believe such Persons conduct was unlawful. The termination of any Action by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or, with respect to any criminal Action that the Person had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
(b) Actions by the Company. The Company shall indemnify each Member, the Partnership Representative, officer and manager (or equivalent) (including any Manager) of the Company and its Subsidiaries and any other Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such Person, or a Person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a manager or officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a manager, director or officer of another Company or of a corporation, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such Person acted in good faith and in a manner such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such Person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(c) Rights Non-Exclusive. The rights to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending an Action in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Section 7.5 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of this Agreement, any other agreement or otherwise.
(d) Insurance. The Company shall maintain insurance, at its expense, and shall cause each Subsidiary to maintain insurance at such Subsidiarys expense, on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was at any time after the Closing Date a director or officer of the Manager, or a manager (or equivalent) (including any Manager) or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this Section 7.5. The Express Holder shall have the right to review such insurance, and upon request, be provided a copy of such insurance.
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(e) Expenses. Expenses incurred by any Person described in Section 7.5(a) or 7.5(b) in defending an Action shall be paid by the Company periodically upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Subject to Section 7.6 and Section 7.10, such expenses incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board deems appropriate.
(f) Employees and Agents. Persons who are not covered by the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.5 and who are or were Member, employees or agents of the Company, or who are or were serving at the request of the Company as employees or agents of another company or of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, may be indemnified to the extent authorized at any time or from time to time by the Board.
(g) Contract Rights. The provisions of this Section 7.5 shall be deemed to be a contract right between the Company and each Member and each manager, officer and employee of the Company, or manager, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who serves in any such capacity at any time while this Section 7.5 and the relevant provisions of any applicable Law is in effect, and any repeal or modification of this Section 7.5 or any such law shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or Action then existing. The indemnification and other rights provided for in this Section 7.5 shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of any Person entitled to such indemnification. The Company shall indemnify any such Person seeking indemnification in connection with an Action initiated by such Person only if such Action was authorized by the Board. Any Person covered by the indemnification and exculpation provisions of this Section 7.5 (a Covered Person) who is not a party to this Agreement and who is granted rights pursuant this Section 7.5 may, in its own right enforce its rights subject to and in accordance with applicable Law. Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement, the consent of or notice to any person who is not a party to this Agreement (including without limitation a Covered Person) is not required for any amendment to, termination, rescission or agreement to any variation, waiver, assignment, novation, release or settlement under this Agreement at any time.
(h) Primacy of Indemnification. The Members hereby acknowledge that certain Covered Persons have or may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance provided by the WHP Holder or Express Holder or certain of their respective Affiliates (collectively, the Holder Indemnitors). The Members hereby agree (i) that the Company is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to the Covered Persons are primary and any obligation of the Holder Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by any Covered Person are secondary), (ii) that the Company shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by such Covered Persons and shall be liable for the full amount of all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement and the Delaware Act (or any other agreement between the Company and such Covered
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Persons), without regard to any rights such Covered Persons may have against the Holder Indemnitors, and (iii) that the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Holder Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Holder Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Members further agree that no advancement or payment by the Holder Indemnitors on behalf of any Covered Person with respect to any claim for which such Covered Person has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Holder Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of such Covered Persons against the Company. The Members agree that the Holder Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 7.5.
(i) Merger or Consolidation; Other Enterprises. For purposes of this Section 7.5, references to the Company shall include, in addition to the resulting company, any constituent company (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its managers, directors, officers, employees or agents, so that any Person who is or was a manager, director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent company, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company or of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Section 7.5 with respect to the resulting or surviving company as he or she would have with respect to such constituent company if its separate existence had continued. For purposes of this Section 7.5, references to other enterprises shall include employee benefit plans; references to fines shall include any excise taxes assessed on a Person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to serving at the request of the Company shall include any service as a manager, director, officer, employee or agent of the Company that imposes duties on, or involves services by, such manager, director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a Person who acted in good faith and in a manner such Person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner not opposed to the best interests of the Company as referred to in this Section 7.5.
(j) No Member Recourse. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, any indemnity by the Company relating to the matters covered in this Section 7.5 shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company assets only and no Member (unless such Member otherwise agrees in writing or is found in a final decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have personal liability on account thereof) shall have personal liability on account thereof or shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to help satisfy such indemnity of the Company.
Section 7.6 Protective Provisions. In addition to the approval of the Board, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the following actions require the prior written consent of Express, subject to [Section 16] of the License Agreement:
(a) authorizing or issuing any Units or other Equity Securities of the Company or any right to acquire any such Units or other Equity Securities and any amendments to this Agreement to give effect to such additional authorization, issuance or right;
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(b) entering into any transaction (other than, with respect to the WHP Holder, those transactions excluded from the definition of WHP Transaction) or amending any agreement with any Member or Affiliate of any Member or any Managers or the Company (other than employment agreements with officers not otherwise affiliated with a Member);
(c) changing the size of the Board or the number of managers that Express or WHP may appoint to the Board;
(d) expanding or changing the existing lines of business of the Company any of its Subsidiaries, in any material respect;
(e) commencing or settling any Action relating to any Company IP or any other material Action of the Company or its Subsidiaries or entering into any consent-to-use, co-existence or other similar agreement with respect to any Company IP outside of the ordinary course;
(f) declaring or issuing any non-pro rata redemption or repurchase with respect to Units other than repurchases of Equity Securities from departing employees, consultants or service providers of or to the Company or its Subsidiaries that have been approved by the Board;
(g) declaring or paying any dividend or other distribution with respect to Units that treats any Member holding the same class or series of Units differently than other Members holding such class or series of Units;
(h) incurring, arranging, assuming or otherwise incurring any liability in respect of any indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise) for borrowed money (other than ordinary course revolver draws), issue any debt securities or guarantee any indebtedness of any other Person;
(i) making any material loans, advances or guarantees to or for the benefit of any Person;
(j) acquiring (including by merger, consolidation, or acquisition of stock or assets) any interest in any Person, corporation, partnership, other business organization or any product line or division thereof or a or any assets, securities or property of any Person (including by way of a license of Intellectual Property);
(k) authorizing, approving, entering into or consummating a merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Company or a Company Sale (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, a WHP Change of Control);
(l) assigning, selling, transferring, conveying, contributing, leasing, creating any lien or security interest on or otherwise disposing of, or abandoning or letting lapse, any assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries (or any Company IP or the Management Agreement), or any rights thereto, in any transaction or series of related transactions;
(m) amending, altering, terminating or assigning the Management Agreement;
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(n) entering into any agreement providing for the provision or receipt of any service set forth in the Management Agreement;
(o) assigning, selling or otherwise transferring or disposing of any ownership rights in or to, or abandoning, let lapse, or otherwise disposing of, any of the Company IP outside of the ordinary course;
(p) paying or reimbursing any expenses incurred by employees and agents in accordance with Section 7.5(e) or authorizing indemnification in accordance with Section 7.5(f);
(q) change the form of ownership of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(r) forming any Subsidiary of the Company;
(s) changing the auditor of the Company;
(t) dissolving the Company, filing for voluntary Bankruptcy of the Company or otherwise liquidating, dissolving or effecting a recapitalization or reorganization of the Company in one or more transactions;
(u) seeking to terminate or terminating the License Agreement;
(v) making any material tax election, allocation, change in accounting method or decision related to tax reporting that is reasonably likely to have a material. disproportionate and adverse impact on Express Holder; or
(w) agreeing, committing or proposing to do any of the foregoing.
Section 7.7 WHP Transactions. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Express Holders, without any further approval by any other Person (including the approval of the Board), shall have the sole right to cause the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to (a) exercise or withhold from exercising its rights, (b) grant or deny a request that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries waive any rights and (c) remedy any breach of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, (i) under or with respect to any WHP Transaction, including (A) any loan provided by WHP or any of its Affiliates to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (B) the Management Agreement or (ii) with respect to any dispute or Action solely with respect to a WHP Transaction between the Company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and WHP or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand.
Section 7.8 Officers.
(a) Subject to the policies and guidelines adopted by the Board and the other restrictions set forth in this Agreement, the officers of the Company (the Officers) shall manage, control and oversee the day-to-day business and affairs of the Company and shall perform all other acts as are customary or incident to the management of such business and affairs, which will include the general and administrative affairs of the Company and the operation and
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maintenance of the Companys assets in accordance with annual budgets and business plans approved by the Board, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and instructions of the Board. The Board shall appoint such Officers, having such power and authority and performing such duties as may be specified from time to time by the Board. Such Officers have such power and authority to sign documents for and otherwise bind the Company as may be authorized by the Board; provided, that no Officer shall take any action expressly reserved by this Agreement to the Members or the Board. Any Officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by the Board in its sole discretion.
(b) The Board may, from time to time, in its sole discretion, delegate to any Person (including any Member or Officer) such authority and powers to act on behalf of the Company as it shall deem advisable in its discretion. Any delegation pursuant to this paragraph may be revoked at any time and for any reason or no reason by the Board in its sole discretion.
(c) Subject to the terms set forth in this Agreement, each Officer shall hold office until his or her successor shall be duly designated and qualified or until his or her death or until he or she shall resign or shall have been removed by the Board. Any Officer may resign as such at any time. Such resignation shall be made in a written notice to the Board and shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if no time is specified, at the time of its receipt by the Board. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the resignation.
Section 7.9 Right of First Offer.
(a) Following the Closing Date, if any member of the WHP Group, on the one hand, or any member of the Express Group, on the other hand, identifies any Retail Opportunity that it intends to acquire or with respect to which it intends to enter into a partnership, joint venture or other similar arrangement with respect to the acquisition of Intellectual Property, excluding the Contributed Assets (each such opportunity, a ROFO Opportunity, and such person identifying the ROFO Opportunity, the ROFO Party) the ROFO Party shall provide written notice (the ROFO Notice) to the Express Holder (in the case that a member of the WHP Group is the ROFO Party) or the WHP Holder (in the case that a member of the Express Group is the ROFO Party), as applicable (the party receiving such notice, the ROFO Counterparty), of such ROFO Opportunity (together with the material terms and conditions of, and any other pertinent information or document relating to, such ROFO Opportunity). Upon receipt of the ROFO Notice, the ROFO Counterparty shall have a right of first offer (ROFO) with respect to such ROFO Opportunity such that the Express Group and the WHP Group can jointly pursue such ROFO Opportunity under a structure similar to the Transactions (other than the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement).
(b) In the event (i) the ROFO Counterparty provides written notice to the ROFO Party that it declines the opportunity to jointly pursue such ROFO Opportunity or (ii) within thirty (30) days following its receipt of the ROFO Notice either (x) the ROFO Counterparty fails to inform the ROFO Party that the ROFO Counterparty desires to jointly pursue the ROFO Opportunity with the ROFO Party or (y) the ROFO Party and the ROFO Counterparty, after using commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate, fail to reach an agreement on the terms and conditions of the ROFO Opportunity and the ROFO Party delivers written notice to the ROFO
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Counterparty that the ROFO Party has made a good faith determination that the parties will not reach an agreement on the terms and conditions of the ROFO Opportunity, such ROFO Opportunity shall be deemed a Passed ROFO Opportunity until the Passed ROFO Opportunity Cutoff Date. From the Passed ROFO Opportunity Start Date until the Passed ROFO Opportunity Cutoff Date, the ROFO Party shall be permitted to proceed with the applicable Passed ROFO Opportunity on its own or with a third party so long as such third-party transaction is on terms and conditions no more favorable to the third party than those set forth in the ROFO Notice with respect to the ROFO Counterparty. If the ROFO Party does not consummate the Passed ROFO Opportunity on or prior to the Passed ROFO Opportunity Cutoff Date, such ROFO Opportunity will no longer be considered a Passed ROFO Opportunity; provided that if the ROFO Party has entered into a definitive agreement with a third party between the Passed ROFO Opportunity Start Date and the Passed ROFO Opportunity Cutoff Date providing for the consummation of such ROFO Opportunity, the ROFO Party is permitted to fulfill its obligations under such definitive agreement.
(c) Beginning on the third (3rd) anniversary of the Closing Date, if the Express Group and the WHP Group have not jointly consummated at least two ROFO Opportunities within the three years since the Closing Date, either the Express Holder or the WHP Holder may elect to terminate the rights and obligations contained in this Section 7.9 and in Section 7.11 upon written notice to the other Member and the Company (a ROFO Termination Election). Upon a ROFO Termination Election by either the Express Holder or the WHP Holder, the Express Holder and the WHP Holder hereby agree that the rights and obligations set forth in (i) this Section 7.9 and (ii) Section 7.11 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect.
Section 7.10 Annual Budget. The initial annual budget of the Company is attached hereto as Exhibit B (the Initial Budget). The WHP Holder shall present to the Board, no later than thirty (30) calendar days before the end of the time period set forth in the Initial Budget, a reasonably detailed consolidated annual budget for the upcoming Fiscal Year, which budget shall be subject to approval of the Board and provide for at least an 85% EBITDA Margin of the Company; provided that (a) if such budget does not provide for at least an 85% EBITDA Margin of the Company (a Nonconforming Budget), such budget shall additionally be subject to the written approval of the Express Holder; (b) any expense (other than expenses referenced in (a) through (j) of the definition of EBITDA) in excess of the total expenses (taken as a whole and not with respect to individual categories of expenses) set forth in an Annual Budget shall require the prior written approval of the Express Holder (provided, further that for the avoidance of doubt, any tax obligations incurred and payable by the Company shall not be considered an expense for purposes of this clause (b) and no prior written approval shall be required to pay these obligations) and (c) any cash expenses (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, taxes) excluded from the calculation of EBITDA shall require the prior written approval of the Express Holder (provided that no prior written approval shall be required if the aggregate amount of such cash expenses excluded from the calculation of EBITDA is less than 2% of the Companys revenue set forth in an Annual Budget). If the Board or the Express Holder, as applicable, do not approve a proposed budget for a Fiscal Year within ten (10) Business Days following presentation by the WHP Holder, then the Company shall operate on the prior Fiscal Years Annual Budget as adjusted to provide for a 5% increase to the total expenses of the prior Fiscal Years Annual Budget (as adjusted, a Continuing Budget); provided that the Board or the Express Holder, as applicable, shall continue to meet in good faith on a weekly basis to resolve any such disagreements until such time as an Annual Budget for such Fiscal Year is approved, at which time the Continuing Budget shall be replaced with the newly approved Annual Budget. The budget for any Fiscal Year, including the Initial Budget, and the budget for any future Fiscal Year (including any Continuing Budget, if applicable), as so approved, is referred to as the Annual Budget.
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Section 7.11 Exclusivity. Subject to Section 7.9(c), neither Express nor any of its Subsidiaries shall (a) pursue or enter into any partnership, joint venture, license or other similar arrangement nor (b) pursue or enter into any sale, merger, divestiture or other transfer of all or any part of its business with Authentic Brands Group, Bluestar Alliance or Marquee Brands (collectively, the Restricted Parties); provided, this Section 7.11 shall not apply to any (i) acquisition of the common stock of Express by any Restricted Party or any Affiliate thereof (provided that the Company may not enter into a private placement of common stock of Express with any such party nor enter into any agreement with any Restricted Party with respect to any acquisition of the common stock of Express) or (ii) indirect acquisition of voting securities of any Restricted Party by Express or any of its Subsidiaries through investment in any independent mutual fund or other similar investment vehicle, or through any broad based, publicly-traded basket or index of stock.
Section 7.12 FCPA and Sanctions. The Company shall not, and shall not permit or authorize any Person to, (a) make any unlawful payment or give, offer, promise, or authorize or agree to give, any money or thing of value, directly or indirectly, to any Person in violation of any applicable laws related to corruption or bribery, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the Anti-Corruption Laws), (b) become a Sanctioned Person or engage in any dealings with any Sanctioned Person or any Person organized, resident, or located in a country that is subject to comprehensive sanctions under Trade Controls, including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, so-called Donetsk, and so-called Luhansk regions of Ukraine, or (c) otherwise violate Trade Controls or Anti-Corruption Laws.
Section 7.13 License Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall perform its obligations under and comply with the terms and conditions of the License Agreement. In no event shall any enforcement of rights by a Person pursuant to this Section 7.13 be duplicative of any monetary remedies available to such Person under the License Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
TAX MATTERS
Section 8.1 Designation of the Partnership Representative. The WHP Holder shall be the partnership representative for purposes of Code Section 6223(a), as amended by the Partnership Tax Audit Rules, and any analogous provision of state or local tax law (such Person, including, as the context requires, any designated individual through whom such Person is permitted by applicable Law to act, the Partnership Representative), and shall have all the rights, duties, powers and obligations provided for in Code Sections 6221 through 6234 and the Partnership Tax Audit Rules and other applicable Laws, as applicable; provided, that the WHP Holder is hereby authorized to (i) designate any other Person selected by the WHP Holder as the Partnership Representative (provided, that Expresss prior written consent shall be required to
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designate a Person other than an Affiliate of the WHP Holder as the Partnership Representative) and (ii) take, or cause the Company to take, such other actions as may be necessary or advisable pursuant to the Regulations or, other guidance or state or local law to ratify the designations, pursuant to this Section 8.1, of the WHP Holder (or any Person selected by the WHP Holder pursuant to this Section 8.1) as the Partnership Representative. Each Member and Manager hereby expressly consents to such designations and agrees to take such other actions as may be necessary or advisable pursuant to the Regulations, other guidance or state or local law to cause such designations or evidence such Persons consent to such designations.
Section 8.2 Preparation of Tax Returns. The Partnership Representative shall use commercially reasonable efforts to arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all returns required to be filed by the Company and shall provide Schedule K-1s, or the equivalent thereof, and any other information reasonably required for the Members to file their income tax returns: (i) no later than April 15th after the end of the relevant taxable year, an estimated Schedule K-1, (ii) no later than June 30th after the end of such year, a final Schedule K-1 and a draft IRS Form 1065 and (iii) within 30 days of an applicable tax return due date, to include extensions, copies of all federal, state, or local income tax returns or reports filed by the Company for such taxable year as may be required as a result of the operations of the Company. The Partnership Representative shall consider any comments received from Express Holder regarding the draft Form 1065 and Schedule K-1 prior to filing the Companys final Form 1065. Each Member will upon request supply to the Partnership Representative all pertinent information in its possession relating to the operations of the Company necessary to enable the Companys returns to be prepared and filed and to otherwise comply with applicable tax and other law; provided, however, that any information relating to the business, financial structure, financial position or financial results, clients or affairs of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that shall not be generally known to the public shall be subject to Section 12.16(b) of this Agreement. Each Member agrees that it shall take no position on its tax returns inconsistent with the positions taken on the Companys tax returns unless required by a determination with the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law).
Section 8.3 Tax Election. Subject to Section 7.6(v), the Partnership Representative shall determine, in its reasonable discretion, exercised subject to the terms of this Agreement, whether to make or revoke any available election pursuant to the Code, provided that, the Partnership Representative shall make an election under Code Section 754 for the taxable year of the Company that includes the Closing Date, which election shall not be revoked for such taxable year. Each Member will upon request use commercially reasonable efforts to supply promptly any requested information reasonably necessary to give proper effect to such election. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) no entity classification election to treat the Company as anything other than a partnership for U.S. federal, state or local tax purposes shall be filed by or with respect to the Company, and (ii) unless otherwise required by a change in applicable Law, no election shall be made to pay a U.S. state or local pass-through entity tax or similar tax shall be made by or with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, in each case without the prior written consent of the Express Holder.
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Section 8.4 Tax Controversies. The Partnership Representative is authorized and required to represent the Company (at the Companys expense) in connection with all examinations of the Companys affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Company funds for professional services reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Each Member agrees to cooperate reasonably with the Company and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Company with respect to the conduct of such proceedings. The Partnership Representative shall keep the Members reasonably informed of the progress of any examinations, audits or other proceedings, and shall provide the Members with information on a full and timely basis. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Express Holder shall have the right to participate, at their own expense and through representation of their choice, in any such examination or proceeding, including through attending any meetings or proceedings with tax authorities, joining in preparation of defense in any such examination or proceeding, and reviewing and commenting on any documents prior to submission in connection with the foregoing. The Partnership Representative shall not settle or concede any such examination or proceeding without the prior written consent of the Express Holder, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, it shall be unreasonable for the Express Holder to withhold consent to any such settlement or consent that would not have an adverse effect on the Express Holder or its Affiliates that is material).
ARTICLE IX
TRANSFER OF EQUITY SECURITIES; SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS
Section 9.1 Restrictions on Transfers.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Article IX, no Member may Transfer any Equity Securities of the Company. No Transfer or attempt to Transfer any Equity Securities in violation of the preceding sentence shall be effective or valid for any purpose. No Transfer of Equity Securities shall be effective or valid hereunder if such Transfer constitutes a Prohibited Transfer. In addition, no Transfer shall be effective or valid hereunder unless the transferee is at such time a party to this Agreement or has previously executed and delivered to the Company a joinder in accordance with Section 9.2.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 9.1(a) (other than the third sentence thereof), a Transfer of Equity Securities of the Company by the WHP Holder may be effectively and validly made by the WHP Holder if such Transfer is (i) to a Permitted Transferee, (ii) made pursuant to Section 9.2 or Section 9.8, or (iii) made with the written consent of the Express Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, a WHP Change of Control shall not be deemed to be a Transfer of Equity Securities of the Company by the WHP Holder for purposes of this Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 9.1(a) (other than the third sentence thereof), a Transfer of Equity Securities of the Company by the Express Holder may be effectively and validly made by the Express Holder if such Transfer is (i) to a Permitted Transferee, (ii) made pursuant to Section 9.2 or Section 9.8, or (iii) made with the written consent of the WHP Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, an Express Change of Control shall not be deemed to be a Transfer of Equity Securities of the Company by the Express Holder for purposes of this Agreement.
(d) The restrictions on Transfer set forth in this Section 9.1 shall terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) the consummation of an Initial Public Offering or (ii) a Company Sale.
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Section 9.2 Substitute Member. Each Person to whom any Unit is Transferred in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement (including this Article IX) shall agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement as a holder of such Units by execution of a joinder agreement in the form provided by the Board. Upon compliance with this Section 9.2 and entry into such joinder, such Person shall be admitted as a Substituted Member entitled to all the rights of a Member with respect to such Unit, and the Schedule of Members and Schedule of Units attached hereto shall be amended to reflect the name, address and Units of such Substituted Member.
Section 9.3 Effect of Transfer. Following a Transfer of any Unit that is permitted under this Article IX, the Transferee of such Unit shall be treated as having made all of the Capital Contributions in respect of, and received all of the Distributions received in respect of, such Unit, and shall receive allocations and Distributions under Article IV and Article XI in respect of such Unit as if such Transferee were a Member.
Section 9.4 Transfer Fees and Expenses. Other than any Transfer pursuant to Section 9.2, the Transferor and Transferee of any Units or other Equity Securities of the Company shall be jointly and severally obligated to reimburse the Company for all reasonable expenses (including attorneys fees and expenses) incurred by or on behalf of the Company in connection with any Transfer or proposed Transfer, whether or not consummated.
Section 9.5 Closing Date of Transfers. Any Transfer and any related admission of a Person as a Member in compliance with this Article IX shall be deemed effective on such date that the Transferee or Successor In Interest complies with the requirements of this Agreement.
Section 9.6 Effect of Death or Incapacity. Except as otherwise provided herein, the death or incapacity of a Member shall not wind up, dissolve or terminate the Company. In the event of such death or incapacity, the executor, administrator, guardian, trustee or other personal representative of the deceased or incapacitated Member shall be deemed to be the assignee of such Members Economic Interest only and may, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 9.2, become a Substituted Member.
Section 9.7 Board Consent to Transfer. Subject to Section 7.7, the Board hereby consents to a transfer of Equity Securities of the Company to any persons to whom a transfer of Equity Securities of the Company is expressly permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
Section 9.8 Put / Call Option. Following the date that is the second (2nd) anniversary of the Closing, if either the WHP Holder or the Express Holder would like to sell all or any portion of its respective Equity Securities of the Company to the other party or purchase the other partys Equity Securities of the Company (in each case, such Holder the Put / Call Party), then the Put / Call Party shall provide the other party (the Put / Call Counterparty) with a written notice to that effect setting forth its proposal for such sale or purchase (the Put / Call Proposal), which proposal shall include the number of Equity Securities of the Company to be sold or purchased by the Put / Call Party (the Put / Call Securities), as applicable, and the purchase price for the Put/ Call Securities. The Put / Call Counterparty shall discuss and negotiate the Put / Call Proposal in good faith with the Put / Call Party for a period of at least thirty (30) days following the Put / Call Counterpartys receipt of the Put / Call Proposal, and if the parties have
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not come to a binding agreement on the material terms and conditions for the consummation of such Put / Call Proposal following such 30-day period, then the Put / Call Party and the Put / Call Counterparty shall engage a mediator to be agreed among the Put / Call Party and the Put / Call Counterparty (the Mediator) (provided that if the parties cannot agree on the mediator, each party shall select a mediator and such mediators shall together unanimously select a neutral mediator who will conduct the non-binding mediation) . The Put / Call Party and the Put / Call Counterparty shall continue to negotiate in good faith and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Mediator to resolve all disagreements with respect to the Put / Call Proposal within 30 days after the engagement of the Mediator. All fees and expenses incurred in connection with the engagement of the Mediator pursuant to this Section 9.8 shall be borne 50% by the Put / Call Party and 50% by the Put / Call Counterparty (and, if applicable, each party shall bear the fees and expenses of its mediator engaged to select the final mediator).
ARTICLE X
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MATTERS
Section 10.1 Use of Company IP in the US. The Company shall not, and shall not authorize any other Person to, (a) use any Company IP in the US, (b) sell, provide, or otherwise commercialize (directly or indirectly, including through wholesalers or retailers) to Persons in the US any products or services bearing or offered for sale under or in connection with any Company IP, or (c) use or register any Internet domain names or social media accounts targeted primarily to Persons in the US consumers and that incorporate (in whole or in part) any Company IP, in each case, except as expressly permitted by the License Agreement during its term.
Section 10.2 Use of Company IP Outside the US and Authorized Uses of Company IP. When using or authorizing any Person to use any Company IP outside of the US, the Company shall take commercially reasonable steps to preserve the value and goodwill of the Company IP in a manner consistent with the image and prestige of the Company IP. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall not, and shall not authorize any Person to:
(a) use any Company IP in any country or jurisdiction subject to an embargo or similar prohibition by any US Governmental Entity;
(b) knowingly use any Company IP (i) in any manner that would disparage, dilute, or otherwise tarnish any of the Company IP or the goodwill or reputation of the Company or any Member or (ii) for any political purpose, religious purpose, or unlawful purposes;
(c) knowingly use any Company IP on or in connection with any goods, services, materials, or content:
(i) that would reasonably be expected to subject the Company or the Express Group to ridicule, embarrassment, public criticism, or scorn;
(ii) involving tobacco, smoking, e-cigarettes, vaping, controlled substances, drugs (or related paraphernalia), alcohol, adult content (including nudity and pornography), firearms, illegal products or activities, fraudulent transactions, terrorism, or obscenity;
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(iii) depicting physical, mental or emotional violence or abuse of any kind (whether to people or animals); or
(iv) that are designed, manufactured, distributed, sold or promoted in a manner that does not comply with all applicable laws.
(d) engage in any act or omission that would reasonably be expected to impair or adversely affect the value of the Company IP in the US or any other material Company IP, including knowingly using, or authorizing the use of, any Company IP in connection with a business that engages in any activity involving the use of child labor or compulsory labor, discriminatory practices, payment of unfair or illegal wages or the like.
Section 10.3 Protection, Enforcement and Defense of Company IP. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its good faith business judgment, to protect, enforce and defend the Company IP throughout the world, including by filing and prosecuting applications to register Company IP and maintaining in force any registrations of Company IP.
Section 10.4 Information and Notice Obligations. Upon reasonable request by Express, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide Express with the following:
(a) the identity of registered and applied-for Company IP, the status of any such item, if available;
(b) samples depicting the use of any Company IP by the Company or any of its licensees; and
(c) information about any actual or suspected infringement, counterfeiting, unfair competition, or opposition to registration, or any notice related to the foregoing.
ARTICLE XI
WINDING UP, DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 11.1 Dissolution. The Company shall not be wound up and dissolved by the admission of Additional Members or Substituted Members. The affairs of the Company shall be wound up upon the first of the following to occur:
(a) at any time there are no Members; or
(b) the making of a winding-up order in respect of the Company by a court of competent jurisdiction.
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Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 11.1, the Company is intended to have perpetual existence. The death, retirement, resignation, Bankruptcy or dissolution of a Member shall not cause a termination, winding up or dissolution of the Company, and, subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.1, the Company shall continue in existence subject to the terms of this Agreement.
Section 11.2 Liquidation and Termination.
(a) On the commencement of winding up of the Company, the Board shall act as liquidator or (in its sole discretion) may appoint one or more representatives, Members or other Persons as liquidator(s). The liquidators shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in accordance with applicable Law. The costs of liquidation shall be borne as a Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidators shall continue to operate the Company with all of the power and authority of the Board. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidators are as follows:
(i) the liquidators shall pay, satisfy or discharge from Company funds all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company (including all expenses incurred in liquidation and the sum payable to the Managers or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof and the establishment of a cash fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidators may reasonably determine);
(ii) after payment or provision for payment of all of the Companys liabilities has been made in accordance with Section 11.2(a)(i), all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed in accordance with Section 4.1 (taking into account, if applicable, the provisions of Section 4.3), after giving effect to all prior Distributions, and a final allocation of all items of Income, gain, Loss and expense shall be made in such a manner that, immediately before distribution of such remaining assets, the positive balance of the Capital Account of each Member shall, to the greatest extent possible, be equal to the net amount that would be distributed to such Member in accordance with Section 4.1 (after satisfaction of any financial obligations of each Member to the Company under any provisions of this Agreement); and
(iii) any non-cash assets will first be written up or down to their Fair Market Value, thus creating hypothetical gain or loss (if any), which hypothetical gain or loss shall be allocated to the Members Capital Accounts in accordance with the requirements of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and other applicable provisions of the Code and this Agreement. In making such allocations, the liquidators shall allocate each type of asset (e.g., cash or cash equivalents, securities or other property) among the Members ratably based upon the aggregate amounts to be distributed with respect to the Units held by each such holder.
Section 11.3 Complete Distribution. The distribution to a Member in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.2 constitutes a complete return to the Member of its Capital Contributions and a complete distribution to the Member of its interest in the Company and all the Companys property.
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Section 11.4 Final Dissolution. On completion of the distribution of Company assets as provided herein, the Company shall be dissolved (and the Company shall not be dissolved prior to such time), and the Board (or such other Person or Persons as applicable Law may require or permit) shall file a final notice of dissolution with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and take such other actions as may be necessary to complete the dissolution of the Company. The Company shall be deemed to continue in existence for all purposes of this Agreement until it is finally dissolved pursuant to this Section 11.4.
Section 11.5 Reasonable Time for Winding Up. A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Section 11.2 to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up.
Section 11.6 Return of Capital. The liquidators shall not be personally liable for the return of Capital Contributions or any portion thereof to the Members (it being understood that any such return shall be made solely from Company assets).
Section 11.7 HSR Act. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, in the event that the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the HSR Act) is applicable to any Member by reason of the fact that any assets of the Company shall be distributed to such Member in connection with the winding up and dissolution of the Company, the dissolution of the Company shall not be consummated until such time as the applicable waiting periods (and extensions thereof) under the HSR Act have expired or otherwise been terminated with respect to each such Member.
Section 11.8 Distribution of Equity Securities of Subsidiaries. In connection with the distribution of Equity Securities of any Subsidiary of the Company, each Member shall take any action necessary such that the rights and privileges that the Members have with respect to their Units immediately prior to such distribution are afforded to such Members in the organizational and other documents of the applicable entity related to such Equity Securities or otherwise, including entering into a stockholders or similar agreement containing such rights and privileges.
Section 11.9 Termination. This Agreement shall terminate with respect to any Member at the time at which such Member ceases to own any Units, except that such termination shall not affect (i) rights perfected or obligations incurred by such Member under this Agreement prior to such termination and (ii) rights or obligations expressly stated to survive such cessation of ownership of Units.
ARTICLE XII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 12.1 Books and Records. The Company (or its designee) shall keep (a) correct and complete books and records of account, and (b) minutes of the proceedings of meetings of the Board and committees thereof. Any of the foregoing books, minutes or records may be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. Each Member shall have the right to receive information regarding the Company in accordance with Section 17-305 of the Delaware Act.
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Section 12.2 Amendment. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 12.2, this Agreement may be amended, modified, or waived only with the approval of the Board; provided, that any such amendment, modification or waiver (1) that is reasonably expected to have an adverse impact on any Express Holder or (2) to Section 7.6 or Section 7.10 shall each require the prior written consent of such Express Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, amendments may be made to this Agreement from time to time by the Board, without the consent of any Member: (i) to correct any typographical or similar ministerial errors that do not adversely affect any Member in any respect without such Members written consent, (ii) to delete or add any provision of this Agreement required to be so deleted or added by any applicable Law, (iii) to take such actions as may be necessary (if any) to ensure that the Company will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, (iv) admit or substitute Members whose admission or substitution has already received the requisite approval in accordance with this Agreement and (v) to update the Schedule of Members and effectuate such technical and other amendments, supplements and modifications to this Agreement as may be required to, inter alia, implement the admission of new or substituted Members or effect the issuance of additional Equity Securities in the Company pursuant to Section 3.2 or other similar matters so long as the applicable underlying change or action giving rise to the amendment was consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and received the requisite approvals. Further, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 12.2, the Board is authorized to implement any and all amendments to this Agreement specifically required by this Agreement.
Section 12.3 Remedies. Each party shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies that such Person has been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights that such Person has under any applicable Law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreements contemplated hereby shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security) to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by applicable Law, subject to the limitations set forth herein.
Section 12.4 Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective Successors in Interest; provided, that no Person claiming by, through or under a Member (whether as such Members Successor in Interest or otherwise), as distinct from such Member itself, shall have any rights as, or in respect to, a Member (including any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, cause of action or other right).
Section 12.5 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
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Section 12.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signatures of more than one party, but each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement binding on all the parties hereto.
Section 12.7 Applicable Law. This Agreement and all claims, actions, causes of actions and proceedings related to or in connection with this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. In any judicial proceeding involving any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Company or its operations, each of the Members and the Company unconditionally accepts the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or if such court does not have jurisdiction, any United States District Court located in the State of Delaware, and in each case the appellate courts to which orders and judgments thereof may be appealed. In any such judicial proceeding, the Members agree that in addition to any method for the service of process permitted or required by such courts, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, service of process may be made by delivery provided pursuant to the directions in Section 12.8. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Members hereby irrevocably waive any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any claim, controversy or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby brought in such courts or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such claim, controversy or dispute. Each of the Members agree that a final and unappealable judgment in any such claim, controversy or dispute shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment, a certified copy of which shall be conclusive evidence of the fact and amount of such judgment, or in any other manner provided by applicable Law.
Section 12.8 Addresses and Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given or made when (a) delivered personally to the recipient, (b) sent by facsimile to the recipient (with hard copy sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) that same day) if sent by facsimile before 5:00 p.m. New York time on a Business Day, and otherwise on the next Business Day, (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) or (d) transmitted, if sent by email transmission before 5:00 p.m. New York time on a Business Day, and otherwise on the next Business Day. Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the address for such recipient set forth on the Schedule of Members attached hereto, or in the Companys books and records, or to such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any notice to the Board or the Company shall be deemed given if received by at the principal location of the Company designated pursuant to Section 2.4.
Section 12.9 Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditors of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and no creditor who makes a loan to the Company or any of its Affiliates may have or acquire (except pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement or security agreement executed by the Company in favor of such creditor) at any time as a result of making the loan any direct or indirect interest in Company profits, losses, Distributions, capital or property other than as a secured creditor.
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Section 12.10 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition. Any waiver by the Company or any Member of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall only be effective if executed in writing by the party making such waiver.
Section 12.11 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to trial by jury of any claim, demand, action, or cause of action (i) arising under this Agreement or (ii) in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties hereto in respect of this Agreement or any of the transactions related hereto, in each case whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether in contract, tort, equity, or otherwise. The parties hereto each hereby agrees and consents that any such claim, demand, action, or cause of action shall be decided by court trial without a jury and that the parties here may file an original counterpart of a copy of this Agreement with any court as written evidence of the consent of the parties hereto to the waiver of their right to trial by jury. EACH PARTY (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS Section 12.11.
Section 12.12 Further Action. The parties agree to execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.
Section 12.13 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including each Schedule and Exhibit attached hereto), the Transaction Documents, and those other documents expressly referred to herein embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, that may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
Section 12.14 Delivery by Email. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of email with scan attachment, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of email to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of email as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract, and each such party forever waives any such defense.
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Section 12.15 Survival. Sections 5.4, 5.5, 7.4, 7.5, 8.4, 12.14, 12.15 and 12.16(b) shall survive and continue in full force in accordance with its terms, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement or the dissolution of the Company.
Section 12.16 Information.
(a) For so long as the WHP Holder or the Express Holder own any Equity Securities of the Company, as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt by the Company, the Company shall provide such holders with (i) unaudited consolidated quarterly financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (ii) audited annual consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries. In addition, the Company shall provide such holders with any financial information reasonably required by Express or WHP to comply with their respective obligations under applicable Law (including the listing rules of the applicable stock exchange).
(b) Each Member expressly agrees to maintain, for so long as such Person is a Member and for two years thereafter, the confidentiality of, and not to disclose to any Person other than the Company (and any successor of the Company or any Person acquiring (whether by merger, consolidation, sale, exchange or otherwise) all or a material portion of the assets or Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), another Member, an Affiliate of a Member, or a Person designated by the Company or any of the foregoings respective financial planners, accountants, attorneys or other advisors, any information relating to the business, financial structure, financial position or financial results, clients or affairs of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that shall not be generally known to the public, except (i) as otherwise required by applicable Law or by any regulatory or self-regulatory organization having jurisdiction or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, in which case (except with respect to disclosure that is required in connection with the filing of federal, state and local tax returns) prior to making such disclosure such Member shall give written notice to the Company describing in reasonable detail the proposed content of such disclosure and shall permit the Company to review and comment upon the form and substance of such disclosure and allow the Company to seek confidential treatment therefor, and (ii) in the case of any Member who is employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in the ordinary course of his or her duties to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that a Member may report to its stockholders, limited partners, members, lenders, other owners or prospective investors, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice for investments made by such Members Affiliates, as the case may be, regarding the general status of its investment in the Company, including returns on investment, internal rates of return and similar customary metrics reported to investors in or lenders to private investment funds (without disclosing specific confidential information). Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 12.16 to the contrary, if any holder of Units desires to undertake any Transfer of its Units permitted by this Agreement, such holder may, upon the execution of a confidentiality agreement (in form reasonably acceptable to the Companys legal counsel) by any bona fide potential Transferee, disclose to such potential Transferee information of the sort otherwise restricted by this Section 12.16 if such holder reasonably believes such disclosure is necessary for the purpose of Transferring such Units to the bona fide potential Transferee.
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[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed and delivered this Agreement as a deed on the date first set out above:
[IPCO], a [] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
EXWHP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
[WARDROBE], a [] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated LLC Agreement]
SCHEDULE OF UNITS
(AS OF [])
[Intentionally Omitted]
SCHEDULE OF MEMBERS
(AS OF [])
[Intentionally Omitted]
CONTRIBUTION SCHEDULE
[Intentionally Omitted]
EXHIBIT A
Closing Capital Contributions and Capital Accounts
[Intentionally Omitted]
Exhibit 10.4
CERTAIN IDENTIFIED INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS BOTH NOT MATERIAL AND IS THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL. [*****] INDICATES THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN REDACTED OR OMITTED.
License Agreement
This License Agreement (this Agreement) is made and entered into as of this ___ day of _______, 2023 (the Effective Date) by and between EXP Topco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business at 530 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10036 (Licensor), and Express, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 1 Express Drive, Columbus, OH 43230 (Licensee).
WHEREAS, Licensee and Licensor are parties to that certain Contribution Agreement, dated on or about the Effective Date (the Contribution Agreement), pursuant to which Licensee contributed to Licensor all of their right, title and interest in and to certain of the Licensed Property (as defined below);
WHEREAS, on and subject to the terms and conditions herein, Licensor wishes to grant to Licensee, and Licensee wishes to receive from Licensor, a license to use the Licensed Property during the Term, solely in accordance with the terms hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Licensor and Licensee (individually, a party, and together, the parties) agree as follows:
1. | Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Exhibit A. |
2. | Grant and Reservation of Rights. |
A. | Exclusive License Grant. On and subject to the terms of this Agreement, Licensor hereby grants to Licensee the exclusive (even as to Licensor), sublicensable (to the extent permitted by Section 18), irrevocable (except as expressly set forth in Section 17.A), non-terminable (except as expressly set forth in Section 17.A) right and license to use the Licensed Property, within the Territory, for any and all lawful purposes, including on or in connection with: |
(1) | the design, manufacture, distribution, sale and promotion of Goods and Services, including for sales through Specified Trade Channels, solely during the Term; |
(2) | operation of brick-and-mortar store locations in the Territory branded under the EXPRESS® trademark or any other EXPRESS-formative Mark (Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores), solely during the Term; |
(3) | operation of the e-commerce sites branded under any Mark (including www.express.com and other sites branded under the EXPRESS® trademarks) (the Branded E-Com Sites), solely in the Territory (except for Permitted Ex-US Sales), and solely during the Term; |
(4) | operation of marketplaces branded under any Mark (the Branded Marketplaces) in the Territory, solely during the Term; |
(5) | participating in other marketplace platforms in the Territory, solely during the Term; |
(6) | the design, manufacture, distribution, sale and promotion of Reserved Goods and Services, including for sale through Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores, Branded E-Com Sites and Branded Marketplaces, solely during the Term; |
(7) | operation and use of domain names, social media accounts, and other Internet properties and digital assets (including as part of the name or address of the foregoing), in connection with Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores, Branded E-Com Sites, or otherwise in connection with the license rights granted hereunder in the Territory, solely during the Term; and |
(8) | as part of a stock ticker name, corporate name, or trade name, in the Territory, solely during the Term. |
B. | Non-Exclusive License Grant. On and subject to the terms of this Agreement, Licensor hereby grants to Licensee a non-exclusive, sublicensable (to the extent permitted by Section 18) irrevocable (except as expressly set forth in Section 17.A), non-terminable (except as expressly set forth in Section 17.A) right and license to use the Licensed Property outside the Territory, for the purpose of: |
(1) | Permitted Ex-US Sales (defined below), solely during the Term; |
(2) | the designing, manufacturing of (a) Goods and Services for ultimate sale or distribution of such Goods and Services pursuant to this Agreement, or (b) marketing, advertising, promotional, or other materials pursuant to this Agreement, solely during the Term; |
(3) | subject to Licensors express prior written approval, sales outside the Territory made to any Approved Wholesaler, closeout retailers, or other third parties for sales for out-of-season, close-out, surplus, or obsolete Licensed Goods and Services and Licensed Goods and Services that have been misprinted or are damaged, imperfect, flawed, substandard quality, misprinted, or defective, solely during the Term; |
(4) | the engagement of service providers, vendors, or suppliers, solely during the Term; |
(5) | as part of a stock ticker name, corporate name, or trade name, solely during the Term; and |
(6) | otherwise supporting, servicing, or operating any business in the Territory. |
C. | Reserved Rights. Notwithstanding the exclusive license granted to Licensee under this Agreement, Licensor reserves the right to enter into new third-party licenses granting rights for use of Licensed Property on and in connection with design, manufacture, distribution, sale and/or promotion of Reserved Goods and Services in the Territory by such third parties during the Term, solely for sale of such Reserved Goods and Services in the Territory by such a third party licensee of Licensor (x) through accounts included on the Approved Account List, (y) to Licensee or its Affiliates, or (z) as otherwise mutually agreed upon by the parties in writing. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 2.C shall permit Licensor to design, manufacture, distribute, sell, or promote Reserved Goods and Services or preclude Licensee or any of its Affiliates from doing so; provided, that, this prohibition does not apply to Licensors third party licensees. The parties shall review the Approved |
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Account List from time to time, but at least once every three (3) Contract Years, and mutually agree to any accounts to be added to or removed from such Approved Account List. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.C or Section 7.A, Licensor shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, use, authorize any Person, or enter into any license to use any Trademark comprising or containing EXPRESS or any other Licensed Property, or any variation, adaptations, translations, or transliterations thereof, (i) in connection with any sale of any Goods and Services within or into the Territory, or (ii) otherwise within the Territory for any purpose (including those set forth in Section 2.A), including in connection with the operation of domain names, social media accounts, and other Internet properties and digital assets (including as part of the name or address of the foregoing) operated in or primarily marketed to or targeting audiences in the Territory, in each case, during the Term without Licensees pre-approval in writing. |
D. | Outside of Territory. Subject to the limitations in this Section 2.D, Licensee may (and the licenses granted in this Section 2 include the right and license to the Licensee to) make sales through Branded E-Com Sites and Branded Marketplaces for shipment to countries outside of the Territory (Permitted Ex-US Sale) and advertise and promote in connection therewith; provided, however, upon Licensee receiving notice that Licensor has granted exclusive rights to a third party in any such other country(ies) outside of the Territory, Licensee shall not make further sales to such other country(ies), except Licensee may continue to fulfill any then-existing orders for Licensed Goods and Services in such other country for a period of one (1) month following Licensors delivery of notice to Licensee advising of the extraterritorial grant. |
E. | Sales to International Operators. Licensee shall use commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate Licensors third-party licensees and/or other designees operating outside of the Territory under the EXPRESS Trademark (International Operators) purchase of then-existing lines of Licensed Goods and Services (for the style and SKU) for which Licensee is simultaneously placing purchase orders in production. Licensee shall use such efforts to facilitate the placement of such International Operators purchase orders for such then-existing lines of Licensed Goods and Services, on net payment terms that are comparable to the terms received by Licensee from the applicable manufacturer, at FOB Cost. Licensor shall pay Licensor a fee within a range of eight to ten percent (8%-10%) of the FOB Cost. Licensees obligation to facilitate the sale of Licensed Goods and Services to International Operators shall be subject to (a) reasonable creditworthiness (which may include a required of letters of credit, bank guarantees, or other type of security (e.g., advance)) and confidentiality obligations, (b) the submission of orders by reasonable deadlines, and (c) satisfaction of reasonable minimum order quantities (MOQ) (which, for apparel, shall be 500 units for the style and SKU). MOQs will take into account any purchase order for the same Licensed Goods and Services (for the style and SKU) being simultaneously ordered by Licensee with the same manufacturer. Licensee shall have no obligation under this Section 2.E with respect to any Goods and Services for which Licensee is not then-currently selling; provided, that Licensee shall discuss in good faith with any International Operator regarding the terms of any potential orders for Licensed Goods and Services in Licensees then-existing line (but for which Licensee is not then-currently placing purchase orders for the manufacture thereof), including with respect MOQs, cost (both of the manufacturer and the fee to Licensee), and other terms, and may elect in its reasonable discretion to facilitate such an order. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any sales by Licensee to International Operators in accordance with this Agreement shall be excluded from the definition of Net Sales and, as such, such sales (1) shall not be subject to payments of Royalties (but shall still be subject to the reporting |
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requirements as set forth in Section 9); and (2) shall not count towards satisfaction of Guaranteed Minimum Royalties. Licensor shall not be responsible for the contractual and/or other commitments of any International Operator, Licensee shall not be responsible for the contractual and/or other commitments of any of its manufacturers in connection with any purchase order of any International Operator. |
F. | Operation of Franchises. Licensee shall not serve as a franchisor of any Licensed Property in the Territory without the express prior written approval of Licensor, not to be unreasonably withheld and, for such purpose, by way of example only, it shall not be unreasonable for Licensor to withhold such express prior written approval if Licensor in good-faith believes that any such franchising relationship (i) imposes potential risk and/or liability upon Licensor under applicable state franchise laws and/or otherwise; or (ii) requires Licensee to (a) make an investment, incur non-recurring annual ordinary course expenses, make capital expenditures, or incur indebtedness (including contingent indebtedness), in each case in connection with entering into, commencing and operating the franchising relationship in excess of [$]1, or (b) grant a lien on any of Licensees property. |
G. | Internet Properties. Licensor shall own (i) all domain names used for the Branded E-Com Sites (including express.com), and (ii) all other domains names, social media accounts, and other Internet properties and digital assets directed to users in the Territory (which shall include .com and .express and social media platforms directed to users in the Territory such as YouTube, TikTok, Meta, Pinterest, BeReal) and included in the Licensed Property ((i)-(ii) collectively, the Licensed Internet Properties); provided that Licensee shall have full and sole operational and administrative control over all Licensed Internet Properties (including all login and administrative credentials and the like), and Licensor shall not take or authorize any other Person to take any actions with respect to any Licensed Internet Properties (including any modification of any DNS, MX, CPART, or TXT records) without Licensees express prior written consent. Licensor shall be the registrant of the Licensed Internet Properties in its own name or through an agent or representative; provided, however, Licensee shall exclusively manage the Licensed Internet Properties agent and cause such agent to renew and maintain in force any registrations for the same; provided, further, Licensee agrees not to cause any such Licensed Internet Properties to lapse or become abandoned without Licensors prior written consent. Licensor shall not access the Internet domain name registry account during the Term or otherwise make any changes during the Term without Licensees prior express written consent. Licensor shall fully cooperate with Licensees exercise of its rights under this Section 2.G, and shall not provide any instruction to or take any action with respect to any domain name registrar or other provider of any Licensed Internet Property that is contrary to Licensees rights under this Section 2.G. |
3. | Payments to Licensor. |
A. | Royalties and Guaranteed Minimum Royalties. Licensee shall pay Royalties to Licensor in accordance with this Agreement. If the total Royalties payable for a Contract Year are less than the Guaranteed Minimum Royalties for such Contract Year, then Licensee shall pay to Licensor the difference between such Guaranteed Minimum Royalties and such Royalties, as set forth below in Section 3.B. In any case where Licensee makes a royalty |
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payment to Licensor, Licensee shall provide to Licensor a reasonably detailed account of how the royalty was calculated. No Royalties shall be payable on any sales or other transactions (a) between or among Licensee or any Affiliate thereof, (b) for the provision or sale of Licensed Goods and Services to Licensor pursuant to Section 7.D, or (c) any services; provided, however, that the parties will discuss in good faith Royalties with respect to any service that is has a margin exceeding [XX%]2. |
B. | Payment Timing. |
(1) | Immediately upon the Effective Date, Licensee will pay the Advance to Licensor. The Advance shall be automatically applied as a credit against the first sixty million US dollars ($60,000,000) in Guaranteed Minimum Royalties due and owing by Licensee to Licensor under this Agreement. |
(2) | For each Contract Year, payments of Guaranteed Minimum Royalties applicable to each such Contract Year will be paid in twelve (12) equal monthly installments, with each installment due on the fifteenth (15) day of each calendar month of the applicable Contract Year; provided, that, if and when the sum of the total Royalties and/or Guaranteed Minimum Royalties paid by Licensee to Licensor at any point during a particular Contract Year equals or exceeds the Guaranteed Minimum Royalties applicable to such Contract Year, then no additional Guaranteed Minimum Royalties shall be due or payable for the remainder of such Contract Year (i.e., Licensee is obligated to pay the greater of actual Royalties and/or Guaranteed Minimum Royalties each Contract Year). The parties acknowledge and agree that the Advance constitutes the entire Guaranteed Minimum Royalties for Contract Year 1, and such Guaranteed Minimum Royalties are deemed to have been paid in full (including with respect to each month of Contract Year 1) upon payment of the Advance. |
(3) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement: if, after the end of a Contract Year, Licensees total payments of Royalties (actual Royalties plus Guaranteed Minimum Royalties) exceed the greater of actual Royalties for such Contract Year or Guaranteed Minimum Royalties for such Contract Year, then Licensor shall promptly refund such excess amount according to the reimbursement terms defined in Section 3.B(5). |
(4) | Licensee shall pay to Licensor any Royalties arising from Net Sales in each Fiscal Quarter within thirty (30) days following conclusion of such Fiscal Quarter, less any Guaranteed Minimum Royalties previously paid or deemed to have been paid by application of the Advance with respect to such Fiscal Quarter. |
(5) | In any instance where this Agreement requires that a party (the Expending Party) reimburse the other party (the Reimbursing Party) for any cost or expense incurred by the Expending Party, then, unless the applicable provision expressly provides otherwise, the Reimbursing Party shall make such reimbursement payment to the Expending Party within thirty (30) days following receipt of an invoice from the Expending Party (which invoice shall include a reasonable description and documentation regarding such cost or expense). |
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C. | Taxes. All payments made by Licensee to Licensor under this Agreement shall be made without withholding or deduction of any tax under applicable laws of the Territory unless Licensee is required by law to make such a payment subject to the deduction or withholding of tax, and Licensee shall furnish Licensor with an official receipt or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to Licensor regarding payment thereof promptly after each such payment of any such taxes. In the event that any such taxes are withheld and collected but are not paid when due, all resulting penalties and interest related thereto shall be borne by Licensee unless such failure to pay is caused by the provision of incorrect or incomplete information by Licensor. In connection with the Effective Date hereof, Licensor shall provide to Licensee a properly completed and duly executed IRS Form W-9, and shall provide any updated or successor form from time to time as required by law or at the reasonable request of Licensee. The parties will reasonably cooperate to reduce or eliminate any withholding of tax on any payment hereunder, including through the provision of any other forms or documentation provided under applicable law. All sales, use, value added, local privilege, excise taxes, tariffs, duties or other charges of any kind, character or description which may be levied or imposed upon any of the Licensed Goods and Services or on any aspect of performance of this Agreement, shall be borne by the person who is primarily liable for such taxes under applicable law. To the extent any exemption or credit is permitted or available with respect to any such taxes, the parties will cooperate to obtain such exemption or credit, including by providing resale certificates or similar documentation, and by properly invoicing for and reflecting any such taxes in accordance with applicable law. |
D. | Currency. All payments made under this Agreement shall be made in United States Dollars. Any payments calculated by reference to Net Sales (and/or otherwise) in a currency other than United States Dollars shall be computed by reference to the conversion rate of the applicable currency into United States Dollars, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal online as of the first day of the Fiscal Quarter in which the applicable payment was due. |
E. | Payments by Wire. Licensee shall be solely responsible for any of its costs and/or fees associated with making any and all payments to Licensor as required under this Agreement, including, without limitation, wire transfer fees. All payments made by Licensee to Licensor under this Agreement shall be made by wire transfers of immediately available cash, to the wire coordinates to be provided by Licensor, which Licensor may change from time to time upon fourteen (14) days prior notice to Licensee. |
F. | Payment or Acceptance Not A Waiver. Remittance of any payment(s) by Licensee or acceptance of any payment(s) by Licensor shall not be deemed a waiver by Licensee or Licensor, respectively, of any of its rights, remedies and/or defenses under this Agreement with respect to such payment(s) and/or otherwise. |
G. | No Offsets. Except to the extent expressly provided for herein, neither party shall be permitted to offset or recoup from payments due by such party to the other party any sums allegedly or actually due by such party. |
H. | Payment Defaults. If Licensee fails to timely make any undisputed payment to Licensor in full then, without limitation of Licensors rights and remedies with respect to such payment default, (i) Licensee shall pay Licensor interest on the unpaid balance at a rate equal to the lesser of one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month or the maximum rate of interest allowed by law; and (ii) Licensee shall reimburse Licensor for all of Licensors reasonable costs of collection, including without limitation Licensors reasonable attorneys fees. |
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4. | Term. |
A. | Initial Term. This Agreement will be effective as of the Effective Date and will remain in full force and effect for the Initial Term and any Renewal Term(s). |
B. | Renewal Terms. After the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive Renewal Terms of ten (10) years each (the Initial Term and each Renewal Term being the Term) unless Licensee provides written notice of non-renewal at least twenty-four (24) months prior to the end of the Initial Term or then-current Renewal Term (in which case this Agreement will be considered to have expired as of the last date of the then-current Term). |
C. | Duration of Term. The parties hereby acknowledge and agree that this Agreement and the licenses granted to Licensee hereunder (i) are neither of indefinite duration nor terminable at will, (ii) is irrevocable, subject to Section 17.A, and (iii) cannot be terminated by either party, even for material breach. Licensor shall not attempt or purport to attempt to terminate this Agreement or any license granted to Licensee hereunder. Except with respect to Licensees non-renewal right pursuant to Section 4.B, Licensee will not attempt or purport to attempt to terminate this Agreement or any license granted to Licensor hereunder. |
5. | Design and Manufacture. |
A. | Costs and Expenses. Licensee shall be solely responsible for all costs and expenses relating to its design, manufacture and/or purchase of Licensed Goods and Services. |
B. | Manufacturing Standards. Licensee shall manufacture any Licensed Goods and Services in a manner that is consistent with Quality Standards, including as to the design and quality of the Licensed Goods and Services. |
C. | Review Process. In the event Licensor determines in good faith that a manufacturing process is reasonably likely to (i) result in liability to Licensor, or (ii) a diminution in value of the Licensed Property, Licensee agrees to participate in good faith discussion with Licensor around a solution to mitigate Licensors concerns. |
D. | Packaging. All hangtags, labels and packaging material used by Licensee in connection with Licensed Goods and Services (all the foregoing, collectively, Packaging Materials) shall be consistent with Quality Standards, including as to the design and quality of the Packaging Materials. |
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E. | Tech Specifications. At the end of the Term, Licensee shall deliver to Licensor then current electronic copies of any and all technical specifications developed and/or used by Licensee and/or any approved sublicensee in connection with design and manufacture of Licensed Goods and Services (the Technical Specifications). Licensee shall provide Licensor with the Technical Specifications at any other time during the Term; provided, that, (i) Licensor or its International Operator reimburses Licensees actual reasonable out-of-pocket cost of producing and shipping such Technical Specifications; (ii) Licensor agrees to make the Technical Specifications available to its International Operators, subject to written confidentiality obligations at least as protective of Licensees Confidential Information as are the terms of this Agreement; (iii) the International Operators execute sourcing agreements with the International Operators third party factories containing confidentiality obligations at least as protective of Licensees Confidential Information as are the terms of this Agreement; and (iv) all Technical Specifications shall be for use solely by International Operators, outside of the Territory, in connection with the EXPRESS brand, and consistent with the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Licensee shall not be required to deliver or provide Technical Specifications hereunder with respect to Goods and Services referred to by Licensee as Icon Styles (e.g., the Editor Pant and Portofino Shirt) unless (i) the parties have discussed in good faith any and all concerns Licensee may have regarding the confidentiality of such Technical Specifications, and (ii) the parties have agreed, in good faith (each party acting reasonably), to a solution regarding such confidentiality concerns (for example, the parties may decide such sourcing agreement confidentiality provision are sufficient, or that such Technical Specifications will not be provided or delivered hereunder, but instead that Licensee would control the communication thereof to the applicable factory or sell the applicable Goods and Services to the International Operators). |
6. | Distribution. |
A. | Branded E-Com Sites. |
(1) | Licensee shall maintain the domain names and site designs of all Branded E-Com Sites in a manner that is consistent with Quality Standards, including as to the design and quality of the Branded E-Com Sites. |
(2) | As between the parties, Licensee shall be solely responsible for all cost and expense relating to operation of all Branded E-Com Sites. |
(3) | As between the parties, Licensee, at its own expense, shall be solely responsible for obtaining and maintaining any and all permits and/or approvals required for lawful operation of each Branded E-Com Site |
(4) | Licensee shall not make any bulk sales through any Branded E-Com Site. |
(5) | Absent Licensors express prior written approval, Licensee shall not advertise any form of going out of business and/or everything must go (or similar discount campaigns associated with going out of business or the like) at or for any of the Branded E-Com Sites. |
B. | Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores. |
(1) | As between the parties, Licensee shall be solely responsible for all cost and expense relating to operation of all Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores. |
(2) | As between the parties, Licensee (and not Licensor) shall be the tenant under all leases under which a Branded Brick-and-Mortar Store is operated, and Licensee (and not Licensor) shall be contractually liable for any and all obligations under any and all such leases. |
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(3) | As between the parties, Licensee, at its own expense, shall be solely responsible for obtaining and maintaining any and all permits and/or approvals required for lawful operation of each Branded Brick-and-Mortar Store. |
(4) | Licensee shall not authorize any Branded Brick-and-Mortar Store to be used for any political purpose, religious purpose and/or unlawful purpose. |
(5) | Licensee must use commercially reasonable efforts to accurately record all sales electronically at the time of the sale. |
(6) | Licensee shall not make any bulk sales through any Branded Brick-and-Mortar Store under a circumstance where Licensee knows or reasonably should know that the customer has the intent to resell the product outside the Territory. |
(7) | Absent Licensors express prior written approval, Licensee shall not advertise any form of going out of business and/or everything must go (or similar discount campaigns associated with going out of business or the like) at or for any of the Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores. |
C. | Wholesale Business. |
(1) | Licensee may make Wholesale Sales of Licensed Goods and Services, solely to Approved Wholesalers in the Territory. |
(2) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Licensee shall not sell Licensed Goods and Services to any Approved Wholesaler (a) unless Licensee believes in good-faith that such Approved Wholesaler has a reputation and standing as a high-quality store selling Goods and Services consistent with the high quality of the Licensed Goods and Services and the reputation, image and prestige of the Marks or meets the Quality Standard; and/or (b) if Licensee has or should have reason to believe that the Approved Wholesaler intends to sell, ship or otherwise divert such Licensed Goods and Services outside the Territory. Additionally, if Licensor in its good-faith judgment should ever determine that a particular account constituting an Approved Wholesaler for any reason has failed to acquire and/or maintain a reputation and standing as an account selling Goods and Services consistent, in all material respects, with the reputation, image and prestige of the Marks, then upon Licensors written notice to Licensee sufficiently detailing Licensors concern Licensee shall participate in good faith discussion with Licensor around a solution to mitigate Licensors concern, and Licensee shall consider in good faith removing such account from the definition of Approved Wholesaler, with any such removal effective upon notice to Licensor; provided, however, that Licensee shall have the right to fulfill any then-existing orders already received from such account, with any such sales constituting Net Sales for purposes of the Agreement. The removal of any account from the list of Approved Wholesaler shall not result in any reduction of any minimum payment obligations, minimum sales obligations and/or minimum renewal thresholds under this Agreement. Licensee shall have no obligation to remove the account of any Affiliated Approved Wholesaler. |
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(3) | Licensee shall have the right to set its wholesale pricing to Approved Wholesalers in its good faith discretion; provided, however, such pricing shall be consistent with the prestige of the Licensed Property and high-quality products associated therewith. |
(4) | The parties agree that Royalties accrue on Retail Sales by any Affiliate of Licensee to a non-Affiliate third-party, and that no Royalties accrue on any Wholesale Sales to an Approved Wholesaler that is an Affiliate of Licensee. |
D. | Unauthorized Sales. If Licensee at any time should sell any Licensed Goods and Services to any unauthorized customer then, without limitation of any and all rights and remedies which Licensor may have arising from such breach, Licensee shall pay to Licensor, as liquidated damages, and not as a penalty, three times (3X) the Royalty otherwise applicable to the sale of such Licensed Goods and Services, and such liquidated damages shall not be applied towards satisfaction of any minimum thresholds and/or minimum payments under this Agreement. The parties hereby agree that this liquidated damage provision is reasonable in light of the anticipated or actual harm caused by a breach of this paragraph, the difficulties of proof of loss and the inconvenience or infeasibility of otherwise obtaining an adequate remedy. |
7. | Promotion. |
A. | Marketing. In each Contract Year of the Term, Licensee at its own expense shall engage in commercially reasonable levels of marketing initiatives for promotion of the Licensed Goods and Services to end-consumers in the Specified Trade Channels at a level that is similar to similarly situated companies (revenue, trade channels, etc.) in the specialty retail apparel industry. Licensees marketing shall be consistent with Quality Standards. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Licensor at any time also shall have the right (but not the obligation) to promote and market the Marks in the Territory at its sole cost and expense, subject in each instance to Licensees pre-approval, not to be unreasonably withheld; provided, that, Licensees pre-approval is not required for any marketing and promotion of Reserved Goods and Services in the Territory. |
B. | Marketing Materials. Subject to any restrictions in third-party contracts, Licensee shall provide Licensor with digital copies of all point of purchase signage, direct to retailer advertising, cooperative advertising, digital, social media and/or direct mail advertising, loyalty programs collateral materials, and trade or product advertising (collectively, Marketing Materials), (i) reasonably in advance of any seasonable implementation timeline; (ii) reasonably in advance of any special events (e.g., holidays or cultural events); (iii) as created by Licensee; or (iv) as requested by Licensor. Licensor shall reimburse Licensee for (a) the reasonable out-of-pocket costs of making additional copies of Marketing Materials requested by Licensor pursuant to this Section 7.B, and (b) the actual incremental cost of distributing or exercising other rights regarding the name, image or likeness of a third-party endorser, including in additional territories. Except for any Licensed Property incorporated therein that is owned by Licensor, Licensee grants to Licensor a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, fully paid, royalty free, sublicensable license under any copyright rights owned by Licensee in the Marketing Materials (which, for clarity, excludes any rights in or to the Goods and Services), including the rights to copy, publicly display, publicly perform, digitally transmit, distribute, modify, adapt, translate and create derivative works of the Marketing Materials, in all cases for the purpose of, subject to Section 7.A, advertising, marketing, and/or promoting the Licensed Goods and Services and/or any other advertising materials otherwise incorporating any Licensed Property. |
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C. | Co-Branding. Licensee may design, manufacture, distribute, sell and promote Licensed Goods and Services in the Specified Trade Channels that contain any Licensee or third-party marks (Co-Branded Licensed Products); provided, that such Co-Branded Licensed Products are consistent with Quality Standards, including as to the designs and quality of the Co-Branded Licensed Products prior to the Effective Date. Licensee shall discuss with Licensor at the Licensor quarterly board meetings, any then-current co-brand opportunities. |
D. | Contributions. If and when Licensor may request, Licensee at its own expense shall deliver to Licensor, as soon as reasonably practicable, reasonable quantities of samples of Licensed Goods and Services (with the assortment of such at Licensors reasonable discretion), which Licensor may use in its discretion (subject to Section 7.A) for purposes of promoting and/or marketing the Marks, Branded E-Com Sites, Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores and/or Licensed Goods and Services. The value (calculated by cost) of any such Licensed Goods and Services provided to Licensor will not exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) in any Contract Year. At its discretion, Licensor may purchase, and Licensee shall deliver, an additional Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) of Licensed Goods and Services (at cost), per Contract Year, to be used for the foregoing purposes; provided that no Royalty shall be payable on such sales by Licensee to Licensor. |
E. | Third-Party Endorsements. Licensee may enter into any endorsement, sponsorship and/or other like agreement with any Person as it relates to the Marks and/or Licensed Goods and Services; provided, that such endorsement, sponsorship and/or other like agreement with any Person is consistent with Quality Standards prior to the Effective Date. Licensee shall discuss with Licensor at the Licensor quarterly board meetings, any then-current third-party endorsement opportunities. |
F. | Press Releases. Neither party shall publish a press release regarding the terms of this Agreement absent the other partys express prior written approval. |
8. | Quality Control. |
A. | Quality. |
(1) | Quality of Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores. Licensee shall operate all Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores in a manner consistent with (i) best industry practices (including with standards of quality, service, and cleanliness), (ii) the image and prestige of the Licensed Property, or (iii) Quality Standards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Licensor acknowledges that all Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores operated by Licensee in a manner consistent in all material respects with the operation of the Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores as of or prior to the Effective Date are deemed operated in accordance with this paragraph. |
(2) | Quality of Branded E-Com Sites. Licensee shall operate all Branded E-Com Sites in a manner consistent with (i) best industry practices applicable to similarly situated e-commerce sites operating in the Territory, (ii) the image and prestige of the Licensed Property, or (iii) Quality Standards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Licensor acknowledges that all Branded E-Com Sites operated by Licensee in a manner consistent in all material respects with the operation of the Branded E- Com Sites as of or prior to the Effective Date are deemed operated in accordance with this paragraph. |
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(3) | Quality of Licensed Goods and Services. Licensee represents and warrants that all Licensed Goods and Services shall be of a quality consistent with the quality employed by Licensee prior to the Effective Date or the quality of the Goods and Services associated with the applicable Marks or with the Quality Standards. |
B. | Seconds. Licensee may, and the rights and licenses granted herein to Licensee include the right to, distribute or sell any out-of-season, close-out, surplus, or obsolete, damaged, imperfect, flawed, substandard quality, misprinted or defective goods under any Mark in the Territory in the ordinary course of business or consistent with Quality Standards. Licensee shall either destroy any products that are not suitable for distribution or sale in a manner consistent with Quality Standards, or distribute such products only after having removed any and all references to any Marks used on or in connection with such product in a manner that is not reasonably likely to cause material reputational and/or other harm to Licensor and/or the Marks. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Licensor acknowledges that Licensees practices in the Territory as of or prior the Effective Date are practices in the Territory deemed in accordance with this Section 8.B. |
C. | Compliance with Laws and Social Compliance Standards. Licensee represents, warrants and covenants that all Licensed Goods and Services shall be designed, manufactured, distributed, sold and promoted, as it pertains to (a), in compliance with, and, as it pertains to (b), in material compliance with (a) all applicable laws and regulations, including without limitation all applicable customs requirements and country of origin regulations, all applicable laws and regulations relating to health and safety, all applicable flammability-related laws and regulations, all applicable environmental laws, all applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws, and all applicable laws and regulations relating to consumer disclosures, such as truth-in-advertising and fiber content labeling laws; and (b) the Quality Standards for social compliance standards (e.g., no child labor; no prison labor; safe and healthy workplaces; no animal testing). Licensee shall promptly inform Licensor in writing of any written complaint received by Licensee from any governmental or other regulatory body relevant to the Licensed Goods and Services, and the status and resolution thereof. Licensee shall act expeditiously to resolve any such complaint at its sole cost and expense. |
D. | Prestige of the Marks. Licensee represents, warrants and covenants that it will not design, manufacture, distribute, sell or promote Licensed Goods and Services involving tobacco, smoking, e-cigarettes, vaping, controlled substances, drugs (or related paraphernalia), alcohol, adult content (including nudity and pornography), firearms, illegal products or activities, fraudulent transactions, terrorism, or obscenity. |
9. | Reports and Plans. |
A. | Monthly Reports. Within twelve (12) days after the end of each calendar month of the Term (and during any Sell-Off Period), Licensee shall deliver to Licensor statements detailing Gross Sales and Net Sales for such elapsed calendar month (including a reconciliation of the calculation from Gross Sales to Net Sales split between Retail Sales and Wholesale Sales). |
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B. | Quarterly Reports. Within twenty (20) days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of the Term (and during any Sell-Off Period), Licensee shall deliver to Licensor statements detailing (1) Gross Sales and Net Sales for such elapsed Fiscal Quarter, broken down by product category (including a reconciliation of the calculation from Gross Sales to Net Sales, broken down among Wholesale Sales, sales from Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores, sales from Branded E-Com Sites, sales from Branded Marketplaces and any other trade channels); (2) any Permitted Other Deductions for such Fiscal Quarter; (3) a twelve (12) month sales plan for any Licensed Goods and Services presented in quarterly increments; and (4) the marketing plan for the Licensed Property for the next Fiscal Quarter. |
C. | Annual Reports. Within thirty (30) days after the end of each Contract Year of the Term (and during any Sell-Off Period), Licensee shall deliver to Licensor statements detailing (1) Gross Sales and Net Sales for such elapsed Contract Year, presented on a consolidated basis and also broken down among Wholesale Sales, sales from Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores, sales from Branded E-Com Sites, sales from Branded Marketplaces and any other trade channels; (2) any Permitted Other Deductions for such Contract Year; and (3) Licensees current inventory, as of the last day of such Contract Year, of Licensed Goods and Services. |
D. | Sales Plans. Within thirty (30) days of the end of each Fiscal Quarter of the Term, Licensee will provide updated forecasts of Gross Sales and Net Sales for the current Contract Year. Prior to each Contract Year of the Term (but within thirty (30) days following the Effective Date as it relates to the first Contract Year), Licensee shall deliver to Licensor sales plans covering Licensees Gross Sales, and Net Sales for the then-next three (3) Contract Years, on a rolling basis. |
E. | Quarterly Financial Statements. Within sixty (60) days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of the Term (and during any Sell-Off Period), Licensee shall deliver quarterly financial statements to Licensor; provided, that quarterly financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shall be deemed delivered to Licensor; provided, that, to the extent there was a material change in Licensees business and quarterly financial statements were not prepared in the ordinary course, the parties will work in good faith to determine a reasonable alternative. |
F. | Audited Financials. Within thirty (30) days following issuance of Licensees audited financial statements each Contract Year of the Term, Licensee shall deliver a copy of such financial statements to Licensor; provided, that financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shall be deemed delivered to Licensor; provided, that, to the extent there was a material change in Licensees business and audited financial statements were not prepared in the ordinary course, the parties will work in good faith to determine a reasonable alternative. |
G. | Form of Reports. All statements and reports delivered by Licensee pursuant to this Agreement shall (1) be in form reasonably requested by Licensor; (2) be signed and certified by an officer of Licensee as accurate; and (3) be supplemented with any additional information or material as Licensor at any time may request, and to which Licensee agrees, relating to Licensees performance under the Agreement. |
H. | Management Access Rights. Upon request, Licensee shall provide Licensor with access to its management team for meetings as needed, but not to exceed four (4) meetings per Contract Year, to discuss any financial, business and/or operational matters reasonably relating to this Agreement. |
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10. | Intellectual Property. |
A. | Ownership. |
(1) | Licensed Property. As between the parties, Licensor exclusively owns all rights to the Licensed Property. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that the Marks are valid, protectible, inherently distinctive, strong and famous. All use of the Licensed Property by, for and/or under the authority of Licensee shall inure solely to the benefit of Licensor. |
(2) | Other Intellectual Property. As between the parties, Licensor shall exclusively own all trademarks and service marks (and all copyright rights to the extent included therein, e.g., logos), domain names, social media accounts and handles, and trade names (including all applications for registrations and registrations of any of the foregoing) that include any Licensed Property (other than to the extent of any Licensee Marks or third-party intellectual property), as well as adaptations, modifications, enhancements or improvements thereto, together with all associated goodwill, in all cases, that are created by Licensee during the Term (collectively, the Licensed Property Improvements). Licensee hereby assigns to Licensor (and/or immediately upon creation shall do so and be deemed to have done so automatically), and shall cause its sublicensees to assign to Licensor (and/or immediately upon creation to have done so and be deemed to have done so automatically) any and all rights, title and interest in the Licensed Property Improvements, and all intellectual property rights therein and thereto. All Licensed Property Improvements shall automatically be deemed Licensed Property. |
(3) | New Derivative Marks; Combination Marks. Licensee may create trademarks that incorporate, modify, or are adaptations, translations, or transliterations of, in each case, in whole or in part, any Licensed Property (each a New Derivative Mark). Licensee shall not use any New Derivative Mark as the name of a Branded Brick-and-Mortar Store without Licensors prior approval; provided, however, any New Derivative Mark comprised of the word Express followed by any generic term (e.g., Express Golf, Express Optical) is deemed approved and subject to the scope of the license granted in Section 2. Each New Derivative Mark is automatically deemed to be Licensed Property, and Licensee hereby assigns all of its rights in and to each New Derivative Mark to Licensor, without the payment of any additional consideration; provided, that, such assignment and the term New Derivative Mark excludes, and Licensee retains, all rights in all Licensee Marks and the portion of any Combination Use Mark that is a Licensee Mark. Licensee may create and use any Combination Use Marks during the Term; provided, that, such use is subject to the terms of this Agreement and Licensor retains all rights in the portion of any Combination Use Mark that is a Mark or New Derivative Mark. Licensee grants to Licensor a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, fully paid, royalty free, sublicensable license under any copyright rights owned by Licensee in the Licensee Marks incorporated in a Combination Use Mark, including the right |
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to copy, publicly display, publicly perform, digitally transmit, distribute, modify, adapt, translate and create derivative works of the Licensee Marks, in all cases for the purpose of advertising, designing, distributing, manufacturing, marketing, and/or promoting the Licensed Goods and Services under the Combination Use Marks. At the request of either party, the parties shall discuss in good faith additional reasonable terms regarding the adoption, use, and protection of Combination Use Marks. |
(4) | No Registration. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement or the Operating Agreement, Licensee shall not directly or indirectly file for registration of any trademarks confusingly similar to any Marks or any New Derivative Marks, without Licensors prior written consent. |
(5) | Samples. If and when Licensor may reasonably request, Licensee at its own expense shall deliver samples of Licensed Goods and Services, Packaging Materials and/or Marketing Materials, for Licensors use, to the extent necessary, in connection with trademark prosecution and/or enforcement purposes. |
(6) | No Challenges. Licensee at no time during or after the Term shall challenge Licensors ownership of, or the validity, enforceability, or registrability of, any Licensed Property. |
B. | Changes to Form of Mark. If Licensor is required to change the design or form of any Mark pursuant to an involuntary, final, non-appealable court order, Licensor shall promptly notify Licensee of such required changes, and as soon as reasonably practicable, Licensee shall implement such change solely to the extent necessary to comply with the terms of such court order; provided that, unless prohibited by court order, Licensee shall have the right to sell-off any of its then-existing inventory (including any inventory for which production is in-process or otherwise under contract to be produced) bearing the prior form of any Mark for a six (6) month period if and to the extent Licensee has rights to sell Licensed Goods and Services pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement throughout such period. |
C. | Management of Licensed Property. |
(1) | Prosecution and Maintenance. Licensor shall, at its sole cost, expense and good faith reasonable discretion, diligently prosecute and maintain trademark holdings in the Territory of any Trademarks included in the Licensed Property for the Licensed Goods and Services and any other use by Licensee. Licensee shall cooperate with and produce any information or materials reasonably requested by Licensor to assist with the prosecution or maintenance of any such applications or registrations in the Territory for any Trademarks in the Licensed Property. Licensee may reasonably request Licensor to provide information and/or materials relating to applications or registrations in the Territory for any Trademarks in the Licensed Property, and Licensor will use commercially reasonable to provide all such information and materials to Licensee; provided, however, that nothing herein shall obligate Licensor to provide to Licensee any information or materials which could violate or otherwise compromise any attorney/client privilege. Licensor shall, at its sole cost, expense and good faith discretion file new applications for registration in the Territory of any Trademarks as may be reasonably requested by Licensee (including any intent-to-use applications for trademarks that will be Licensed Property). Licensor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent any registrations for the Licensed Property that are material to Licensee to lapse or become abandoned, cancelled, forfeited, lapsed, or impaired, without Licensees prior written consent. |
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(2) | Step In Right. If Licensor fails to diligently and timely comply with any of its obligations under Section 10.C, or Licensor elects not to prosecute or maintain any trademark holding in the Territory, then, unless such failure or election is based on Licensors good faith objection and belief that such prosecution or maintenance is reasonably likely to cause a material and adverse effect to Licensors rights in such trademark holding, after providing Licensor with thirty (30) days prior written notice (unless a shorter notice period is necessary due to any filing deadlines applicable to such trademark holding), Licensee shall have the right (but not the obligation) to take action, including in Licensors name, to prosecute, maintain, or preserve, as applicable, the applicable Licensed Property, at Licensees sole cost and expense. |
D. | Third-Party Infringement. |
(1) | Duty to Police. Licensor shall use reasonable efforts to monitor, detect, and prevent (i) any infringement, counterfeiting, imitation, unfair competition, dilution, or other violation in the Territory of any Licensed Property for the Licensed Goods and Services or any other use by Licensee by any Person (each an Infringement), and (ii) any unauthorized direct or indirect import, sale, offer for sale, lease or other transfer or disposition of any product bearing or offered in the Territory under any Trademark in the Licensed Property of a type similar to any Licensed Goods and Services by any Person (Parallel Imports). Licensor shall not, and shall not authorize any Person, to directly or indirectly import, sell, offer for sale, lease or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Parallel Imports in the Territory. |
(2) | Notices. Each party shall promptly report in writing to the other party any known or suspected instances of (i) Infringement or (ii) Parallel Imports and provide the other party with any additional information or material which such party may request concerning the Infringement or Parallel Imports. |
(3) | Right to Enforce. Licensor shall have the right (but not the obligation) to take any action Licensor deems reasonable in its sole discretion to abate any Infringement or Parallel Imports and collect any damages incurred by either party with respect thereto, including commencing a legal proceeding against, directly communicating with, or entering into a settlement agreement with, the relevant Person. Should Licensor decide not to take action to abate any Infringement or Parallel Imports, it shall promptly notify Licensee of such decision. Licensee may designate by written notice (each a Priority Matter Notice) any Infringement or Parallel Import as a matter for which abatement is important to Licensee (each such Infringement or Parallel Import, a Priority Matter), and Licensor shall reasonably consider such Priority Matter. Licensor shall notify Licensee whether Licensor will take action with respect to a Priority Matter within ten (10) business days (provided, however, that the parties understand and agree that such time period may require an extension (but no longer than five (5) business days) upon notice based on any necessary or desirable investigations Licensor may elect to |
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pursue relating to the Priority Matter) after receiving the applicable Priority Matter Notice. If Licensor provides notice of its decision not to take action to abate any Infringement or Parallel Imports (including any Priority Matter) or fails to provide notice in response to a Priority Matter Notice as specified in the preceding sentence, then Licensee shall have the right (but not the obligation) to take such action at Licensees sole expense and to collect any damages incurred by either party with respect thereto. |
E. | Defense. Except as set forth below in this Section 10.E Licensor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to defend any Trademark in the Licensed Property in the Territory against any and all third-party threats or legal proceedings challenging the ownership, validity, enforceability, registrability, strength, distinctiveness, or famousness of any Trademark in the Licensed Property (including any opposition or cancellation proceedings) (each, a Third-Party Challenge). Licensor will provide Licensee with notice of any Third-Party Challenge and confirm that Licensor will so defend such Third-Party Challenge within ten (10) business days of becoming aware of such Third-Party Challenge. If Licensor fails to so provide such notice or provides notice of its decision not to so defend against any Third-Party Challenge, then Licensee shall have the right (but not the obligation) to take action at Licensees sole expense to defend against the Third-Party Challenge. |
F. | Procedures. The party taking action with respect to an Infringement or Parallel Import (as set forth in Section 10.D), or defending against a Third-Party Challenge (as set forth in Section 10.E), shall be deemed to be the Controlling Party with respect thereto and the other party shall be deemed to be the Non-Controlling Party with respect thereto. The Controlling Party with respect to an Infringement or Parallel Import shall have the sole and exclusive right to initiate (as applicable) and control such action, including selecting counsel for any such action, in each case at its sole cost and expense; provided, that, where Licensee is the Non-Controlling Party, Licensee has the option to pay for fifty percent (50%) of all costs and expenses connected with the action. The Controlling Party with respect to a Third-Party Challenge shall have the sole and exclusive right to control the defense thereof, including selecting counsel for any such action, in each case at its sole cost and expense. In all cases, the Controlling Party shall keep the Non-Controlling Party reasonably apprised of the status of any such action or defense and any corresponding legal proceedings, and, if requested by the Non-Controlling Party, the Controlling Party shall consult with the Non-Controlling Party in good faith regarding the actions to be taken and the strategy and manner of doing so, and shall consider in good faith any requests by the Non-Controlling Party with respect thereto. In all cases, the Controlling Party shall take all reasonable actions to abate any Infringement or Parallel Import, or to defend against any Third-Party Challenge and to establish the ownership, validity, enforceability, registrability, strength, distinctiveness, or famousness, as applicable, of the applicable Trademark in the Licensed Property. If required under applicable law in order for the Controlling Party to initiate, maintain, or control any legal proceeding, or if it is otherwise advisable to obtain an effective legal remedy, in each case, the Controlling Party has the right to join the Non-Controlling Party as a party to the legal proceeding (in which case the Non-Controlling Party will take such actions as are reasonably requested by the Controlling Party with respect thereto, at the Controlling Partys sole cost and expense). In addition, at the Controlling Partys request, the Non-Controlling Party will provide reasonable assistance to the Controlling Party in connection with any such legal proceeding, and the Controlling Party will reimburse the Non-Controlling Party for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Non-Controlling Party in taking any such actions |
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or providing any such assistance. The Non-Controlling Party shall have the right to participate and be represented in connection with any action or legal proceeding by its own counsel at its own cost and expense. In any and all cases, whether Licensor is the Controlling Party or the Non-Controlling Party, the parties agree that no settlement with respect to any Infringement, Parallel Import, or Third-Party Challenge may be entered into without the prior written consent of Licensor, not to be unreasonably withheld. |
G. | Recoveries. All amounts recovered in connection with any action or legal proceeding, including any damages, license fees, royalties or other compensation (including any amount received in settlement of such action or legal proceeding) (collectively, Recoveries) shall be awarded to the Controlling Party, with the Controlling Party providing reimbursement for any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Non-Controlling Party, if any, as provided for herein, or paid for by Licensee as the Non-Controlling Party as provided in Section 10.F, and the balance of the Recoveries shall be split between the parties in proportion to their respective payments towards such action or legal proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the parties have agreed in advance to participate jointly in any action or legal proceeding, any Recoveries shall be split pro-rata between the parties as previously determined and agreed to before any such joint participation. Sections 10.C-10.G shall not apply to any action between or among Licensor and Licensee or any of their Affiliates. |
11. | Confidentiality. |
A. | For purposes of this Agreement, Confidential Information means any information or materials relating to a partys (the Disclosing Party) business that is not generally known to the public and that at any time was used, developed or obtained by the other party (the Receiving Party) in connection with its performance under this Agreement; provided, however, Confidential Information shall not include information which (i) at any time becomes generally known or available to the public through no unauthorized act by or on behalf of the Receiving Party; (ii) was known to the Receiving Party, by lawful means, at the time the Receiving Party received the same from the Disclosing Party; (iii) was furnished to the Receiving Party by a third party that does not have an obligation of confidentiality to the Disclosing Party with respect thereto; and/or (iv) was independently developed by the Receiving Party without use of or reference to the Disclosing Partys Confidential Information. |
B. | Recognizing that Confidential Information is a valuable asset and the harm that may befall the Disclosing Party if any of its Confidential Information is disclosed, each Receiving Party agrees that, during and after the Term, it shall use at least reasonable care to protect, and hold all of the Disclosing Partys Confidential Information, in strict confidence and not use or otherwise disclose any such Confidential Information to any third parties without having received the Disclosing Partys prior written consent and a written agreement from such third party to maintain such Confidential Information in confidence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Receiving Party may share the Disclosing Partys Confidential Information if and as reasonably necessary for the Receiving Partys legitimate and good-faith business needs with its actual or prospective lenders, attorneys and/or accountants, subject to any such third-parties first agreeing in writing, or in the case of professional advisors, ethical duties, in each case to maintain the Confidential Information as strictly confidential. |
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C. | If the Receiving Party at any time during or after the Term becomes legally compelled by judicial process, order of a court or other competent governmental agency, or by applicable law to disclose any of the Disclosing Partys Confidential Information, then the Receiving Party shall (i) promptly notify the Disclosing Party of such circumstance in writing to enable the Disclosing Party, at its discretion, to seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy, and (ii) reasonably cooperate with respect to any such effort by Licensor. If the Disclosing Party waives compliance or, after providing the notice and assistance required under this Section 11.C, the Receiving Party remains required by law to disclose any Confidential Information, the Receiving Party shall disclose only that portion of the Confidential Information that the Receiving Party is legally required to disclose and, on the Disclosing Partys request, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain assurances from the applicable court or other presiding authority that such Confidential Information will be afforded confidential treatment. |
12. | Indemnification. |
A. | Licensor Indemnity. Licensor shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Licensee, Licensees Affiliates and Licensees sublicensees, and each of their respective members, partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives (Licensee, together with all the foregoing, the Licensee Indemnitees) from and against any and all claims, causes of action, suits, or legal proceedings brought or threatened by a third party (including a governmental entity) (collectively, Claims), and pay or reimburse all damages, liabilities, fines, penalties, or other amounts paid or required to be paid to a third party (including a governmental entity) (collectively Losses), to the extent arising from or in connection with (i) Goods and Services bearing or offered under the Licensed Property that were designed, manufactured, distributed, sold and/or promoted by Licensor or any Licensor Indemnitee, including to the extent arising from product liability claims; (ii) Licensors breach of any of its promises, obligations, representations and/or warranties under this Agreement and/or any applicable sublicense; and/or (iii) Licensors gross negligence, willful misconduct, or failure to comply with any law or regulation applicable to its performance hereunder. Licensor may settle any such Claim without Licensees prior written consent; provided, that, the settlement fully releases Licensee and its Affiliates, owners and agents, without imposing future duties on Licensee or admitting any liability on Licensees behalf, and without in any way prejudicing Licensees rights in Licensed Property. For avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this paragraph shall survive expiration of this Agreement. |
B. | Licensee Indemnity. Licensee shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Licensor, Licensors Affiliates and Licensors licensees, and each of their respective members, partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives (Licensor, together with all the foregoing, the Licensor Indemnitees) from and against any and all Claims, and pay or reimburse all Losses, to the extent arising from or in connection with (i) any Licensee Indemnitees design, manufacture, distribution, sale and/or promotion of Licensed Goods and Services (excluding any provision of design to, manufacture for, or distributions or sales to, Licensor or any licensee or International Operator), including to the extent arising from product liability claims; (ii) Licensees breach of any of its promises, obligations, representations and/or warranties under this Agreement and/or any applicable sublicense; and/or (iv) Licensees gross negligence, willful misconduct, or failure to comply with any law or regulation applicable to its performance hereunder. Licensee may settle any such Claim without Licensors prior written consent; provided, that, the settlement fully releases Licensor and its Affiliates, owners and agents, without imposing future duties on Licensor or admitting any liability on Licensors behalf, and without in any way prejudicing Licensors rights in Licensed Property. For avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this paragraph shall survive expiration of this Agreement. |
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13. | Insurance. Licensee, at its sole cost and expense, shall procure and maintain throughout the Term and for a period of three (3) years thereafter, comprehensive general liability insurance (limited to product liability insurance, inventory insurance, operations liability insurance, advertising injury insurance and cyber liability insurance) and workers compensation insurance. Licensee shall obtain such insurance in an amount not less than Five Million U.S. Dollars ($5,000,000) in the aggregate. Each policy required hereunder, or otherwise held by Licensee and of the same type as a policy required hereunder (in each case, other than the workers compensation insurance and cyber liability insurance), shall name Licensor as additional insureds. In the event that any insurance policy required hereunder includes or permits a waiver of subrogation, such waiver shall apply to all such additional insureds. Licensee shall use commercially reasonable efforts to require the insurance carrier(s) to provide at least thirty (30) days notice to Licensor of any modification, cancellation, renewal or replacement of any insurance policy required hereunder. |
A. | Within five (5) business days following the Effective Date, Licensee shall deliver to Licensor a certificate of insurance confirming the coverages required herein; provided, however, whether or not Licensor receives such a certificate during such time frame shall not constitute a waiver of any of Licensees obligations herein. |
B. | Licensees indemnification obligations shall not be limited by insurance requirements hereunder. |
14. | Audit Rights. |
A. | Books and Records. Licensee shall prepare and maintain throughout the Term and for five (5) years thereafter, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and with this Agreement and in a manner which will enable Licensors representatives to audit same, complete and accurate books of account and records (including the originals or copies of documents supporting entries in the books of account) covering all transactions for the preceding seven (7) Contract Years relating to this Agreement. |
B. | Audit Right. Licensors representatives may, during regular business hours with at least twenty (20) business days advance notice, and no more than once per Contract Year, during the Term and for three (3) years thereafter, inspect, and/or audit Licensees books of account and records, solely to the extent related to Licensees calculation of Gross Sales, Net Sales, Royalties or any other financial provisions of this Agreement. All audits shall be conducted at Licensors sole cost and expense by an independent accounting firm. Any such audit commenced within such period may continue through completion in the ordinary course. Licensee shall reasonably cooperate in all respects with any such inspection and/or audit, including without limitation by promptly responding to any inquiries and/or providing any information or material requested by Licensors auditor in connection therewith that Licensee is required to maintain pursuant to Section 14.A. Licensor shall ensure that the auditor is subject to a written confidentiality agreement containing non-disclosure obligations that are no less stringent than those contained with this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Licensee may refuse to grant or provide any access to, or to disclose, any information if and to the extent such access or disclosing such information would: (a) violate applicable law; or (b) cause the loss of or jeopardize any attorney-client, attorney-work product, or similar legal or protective privilege. Licensor shall take (and cause the auditor to take) all commercially reasonable actions as reasonably requested by Licensee or otherwise necessary to minimize any unnecessary disruption to Licensees and its Affiliates businesses that may result from Licensors exercise of its rights under this Section 14.B. |
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C. | Underpayments. If any audit of Licensees books and records discloses an underpayment by Licensee hereunder, the amount of such underpayment, plus interest at a rate equal to one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month or the maximum rate of interest allowed by law, whichever is less, from the date such payments were originally due, shall be made to Licensor. If the underpayment is five percent (5%) or more or any lesser amount if such underpayment was knowing and intentional, then Licensee shall pay to Licensor all of Licensors reasonable out-of-pocket fees and costs incurred in connection with the audit. |
15. | Representations and Warranties. |
A. | Licensor Representations. Licensor represents, warrants and covenants to Licensee that Licensor has full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform all of its obligations hereunder. |
B. | Licensee Representations. Licensee represents, warrants and covenants to Licensor that Licensee (i) has full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform all of its obligations hereunder; (ii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of Licensees obligations hereunder do not and will not conflict with, violate or breach, or constitute a default under any contractual obligation of Licensee; (iii) Licensees operations and performance in any way concerning its design, manufacture, distribution, sale and/or promotion of Licensed Goods and Services under this Agreement shall comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable thereto. |
C. | No Other Representations. Except if and as expressly set forth in this Agreement, or any other written agreement between the parties being entered into contemporaneously herewith, neither party has made and is not making any representation or warranty hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, neither party has made, and neither party makes, any representation or warranty to Licensee in any way concerning projections, sales, Net Sales and/or profits which the other party should expect under this Agreement. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN, NEITHER PARTY MAKES ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, WHETHER OR ARISING BY CUSTOM OR TRADE USAGE, WITH RESPECT TO THE ITEMS OR RIGHTS PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN REPRESENTATIONS, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. |
16. | Non-Payment of Guaranteed Minimum Royalties and Royalties. |
A. | Notice of Payment Default. In the event of any failure by Licensee to make timely payment of the Guaranteed Minimum Royalties, Licensor may delivery to Licensee an initial notice describing the payment default (such payment default, a GMR Default and such notice, an Initial GMR Default Notice). If the default remains uncured after ten (10) days of the date of Licensees receipt of the Initial GMR Default Notice, Licensor will provide Licensee with a second notice describing the payment default. If the payment default |
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remains uncured after ten (10) days of the date of Licensees receipt of such second notice, Licensor will provide Licensee with a third notice describing the payment default (a Third Default Notice). Licensee may cure any failure to make timely payment at any time by paying the unpaid amounts and the interest assessed thereto (the Unpaid GMR). For sake of clarity, interest will accrue on any unpaid amounts beginning the date such amounts become due in accordance with Section 3.H. |
B. | Defaults of Guaranteed Minimum Royalties. |
(1) | Upon the occurrence of a GMR Default and (a) Licensee has not cured such GMR Default within ninety (90) days of the Initial GMR Default Notice and (b) the then-current Unpaid GMR owed pursuant to such GMR Default exceeds $250,000, then at Licensors election in Licensors sole discretion, Licensor may exercise the following rights alone or in combination and shall take effect upon written notice to Licensee: |
(i) | With respect to Licensees right to the Quarterly Payments (as such term is defined in the Operating Agreement) pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Operating Agreement (the Original Distribution Rights), Licensor may offset a portion or all of the Licensees Unpaid GMR against Licensees Quarterly Payments pursuant to the Original Distribution Rights until such time as the Unpaid GMR is paid in full. Licensees right to the Quarterly Payments pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Operating Agreement shall be according to the following formula: (x) Licensee shall forgo the first $33,000,000 of Quarterly Payments of Excess Cash (as such term is defined in the Operating Agreement) available for distribution in such year which would otherwise be due to it under Section 4.1 of the Operating Agreement each year, which payments shall be made by Licensor to the other Members (as such term is defined in the Operating Agreement) prior and in preference to any payment due to Licensee by virtue of its ownership of Class A Units (as such term is defined in the Operating Agreement) (the Yearly GMR Default Payment Amount), (y) once the Yearly GMR Default Payment Amount has been paid in full to the other Members, Licensee shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any payments due to the other Members by virtue of such other Members ownership of Class A Units, Quarterly Payments totaling up to $22,000,000 of the Excess Cash available for distribution in such year (the Yearly GMR Catch-Up Payment Amount) and (z) any Excess Cash available for distribution in excess of the sum of the Yearly GMR Default Payment Amount and the Yearly GMR Catch-Up Payment Amount for such year (if any) shall be paid ratably among the Members of Licensor based upon the respective number of Class A Units held by such Members as of immediately prior to such distribution; provided, that Licensees Original Distribution Rights shall be reinstated upon (I) Licensees cure of the GMR Default and (II) three (3) consecutive years of compliance with all payment obligations of Licensee contained in this Agreement following such cure of the GMR Default. The Yearly GMR Default Payment Amount and the Yearly GMR Catch-Up Payment Amount shall be adjusted ratably based on Licensees and the other Members relative ownership of Class A Units. |
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(ii) | Licensee shall be required to unconditionally and irrevocably grant to Licensor the right to purchase all or any portion of its Class A Units (as adjusted for any equity split, dividend, recapitalization, reorganization or the like) (the Transfer Units) that Licensee may propose to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of (collectively, a Proposed Licensee Transfer) to a third-party purchaser (a Prospective Transferee) at the same price and on the same terms and conditions as those offered to such Prospective Transferee to whom Licensee proposes to make a Proposed Licensee Transfer on the terms and conditions specified in the Proposed Licensee Transfer Notice (as defined below) (the Right of First Refusal). |
(a) | If Licensee proposes to make a Proposed Licensee Transfer, Licensee must deliver a written notice to Licensor setting forth the terms and conditions of a Proposed Licensee Transfer (the Proposed Licensee Transfer Notice) not later than fifteen (15) days prior to the consummation of such Proposed Licensee Transfer. Such Proposed Licensee Transfer Notice shall contain the material terms and conditions (including price and form of consideration) of the Proposed Licensee Transfer and the intended date of the Proposed Licensee Transfer. In order to exercise its Right of First Refusal hereunder, Licensor must deliver a written notice notifying the Licensee that Licensor intends to exercise its Right of First Refusal to purchase all or a portion of the Transfer Units with respect to any Proposed Licensee Transfer (the Licensor Notice) to the Licensee within ten (10) days after delivery of the Proposed Licensee Transfer Notice. |
(b) | Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the total number of Transfer Units that Licensor has agreed to purchase in a Licensor Notice is less than the total number of Transfer Units, then Licensor shall be deemed to have forfeited any right to purchase such Transfer Units, and Licensee shall be free to sell all, but not less than all, of the Transfer Units to the Prospective Transferee on terms and conditions substantially similar to (and in no event more favorable than) the terms and conditions set forth in the Proposed Licensee Transfer Notice, it being understood and agreed that (i) any such sale or transfer shall be subject to the other terms and restrictions of the Operating Agreement, (ii) such sale shall be consummated within sixty (60) days after receipt of the Proposed Licensee Transfer Notice by Licensor and, if such sale is not consummated within such sixty (60)-day period, such sale shall again become subject to the Right of First Refusal on the terms set forth herein. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this provision shall amend, modify, alter or waive the transfer restrictions set forth in Section 9.1 of the Operating Agreement, and it is understood that a pledge of the Class A Units by Licensee to its lenders in respect of any of its financing arrangements and any exercise thereof shall not constitute a Proposed Licensee Transfer and shall not be subject to the provisions of this Section 16. |
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(iii) | (1) Licensee shall be required to unconditionally and irrevocably waive all of its rights contained in Section 7.6(c) and (j) of the Operating Agreement (the Specified Minority Protections) and (2) notwithstanding Section 7.6(b) and Section 7.6(h) of the Operating Agreement, Licensor shall be permitted to incur emergency indebtedness for borrowed money from an Affiliate of the WHP Member (as defined in the Operating Agreement) provided such indebtedness is on terms no less favorable to Licensee than could be obtained in an arms length transaction with a non-Affiliate (Affiliate Debt); provided, that if the Licensee cures the GMR Default within one hundred twenty (120) days of the Initial GMR Default Notice, the Specified Minority Protections shall be reinstated, subject to a future occurrence of a GMR Default (in which case the provisions of this Section 16.B shall apply with respect to such GMR Default). |
(iv) | Licensee shall be required to forfeit its rights to designate the Express Managers (as such term is defined in the Operating Agreement) pursuant to Section 7.2(a)(ii) of the Operating Agreement (the Licensor Board Designation Rights); provided, that if the Licensee cures a GMR Default within one hundred twenty (120) days of the Initial GMR Default Notice, the Licensor Board Designation Rights shall be reinstated, subject to a future occurrence of a GMR Default (in which case the provisions of this Section 16.B shall apply with respect to such GMR Default). |
(v) | At the written election of the WHP Holder (as such term is defined in the Operating Agreement), Licensor will engage a third party, nationally recognized valuation expert reasonably satisfactory to the Licensee (the Valuation Expert) to value the aggregate Class A Units of Licensor. In connection with its valuation analysis, the Valuation Expert (X) shall (i) assume that any then-current amount of Unpaid GMR will not to be received by Licensor, (ii) consider that any future projected royalties payable under the Agreement should be based on Licensees then-projected performance and (iii) use market multiples that WHP and other similar brand management companies have paid for similar intellectual property and (Y) shall not consider or take into account (i) any actions taken by Licensor that would have required consent under the Specified Minority Protections if not for the exercise of Section 16.B(1)(iii) or (ii) liabilities in respect of any Affiliate Debt. Upon receipt of such valuation, which shall be final and binding on the parties and the cost and expense of which shall be added to the Unpaid GMR, Licensor may elect to satisfy Licensees then-current amount of Unpaid GMR through Licensees forfeiture of Class A Units equal in value to the amount of the Unpaid GMR based on the valuation of the Valuation Expert (provided that if the valuation of Licensees Class A Units is less than the then-current amount of the Unpaid GMR, Licensor shall be entitled to satisfy a portion of the Unpaid GMR equal to the valuation of Licensees Class A Units through Licensees forfeiture of Class A Units). |
(2) | Upon the occurrence of a GMR Default and (i) Licensee has not cured such GMR Default within one hundred twenty (120) days of the Initial GMR Default Notice, (ii) the amount owed pursuant to such GMR Default (inclusive of all accrued interest) exceeds $1,000,000, then at Licensors election in Licensors sole |
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discretion and (iii) prior to the exercise of the rights in this Section 16.B(2), Licensee has used reasonable best efforts to obtain satisfaction of the Unpaid GMR through the exercise of Licensees rights set forth in Section 16.B(1) and the Unpaid GMR remains outstanding, Licensor may exercise the following rights alone or in combination with the rights above: |
(i) | Licensor may, upon written notice to Licensee, convert the exclusive License in the Territory to a non-exclusive license, and Licensor shall have all rights to enter into new third-party licenses granting rights for use of Licensed Property, or any variation, adaptations, translations, or transliterations thereof, on and in connection with design, manufacture, distribution, sale and/or promotion of Licensed Goods and Services inside the Territory. |
(ii) | Licensee shall obtain an irrevocable letter of credit issued with respect to this Agreement in an amount sufficient to secure the obligations of Licensee with respect to the Guaranteed Minimum Royalties payable to Licensor for rolling six-month periods (the Letter of Credit). Such Letter of Credit shall be maintained until the termination or expiration of this Agreement; provided, that Licensees obligation to maintain the Letter of Credit shall terminate upon (i) Licensees cure of the GMR Default and (ii) three (3) consecutive years of compliance with all payment obligations of Licensee contained in this Agreement following such cure of the GMR Default. |
C. | Defaults of Royalties. |
(1) | If a default related to the payment of Royalties remains uncured more than ten (10) days after the date of Licensees receipt of the Third Default Notice, the parties agree to each appoint a senior executive who will negotiate in good faith to resolve the alleged payment default for a period of fifteen (15) days. |
(2) | In the event that the senior executives or their designees cannot resolve the payment dispute within the fifteen (15) day period, either party may submit such dispute to be finally settled by arbitration administered by JAMS in accordance with its Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time of submission, as modified by this Section 16.C(2). The arbitration will be heard and determined by three (3) arbitrators who are retired judges or attorneys with at least ten (10) years of experience. Each Party will appoint one arbitrator and the third arbitrator will be selected by the two party-appointed arbitrators, or, failing agreement within thirty (30) days following the date of receipt by the respondent of the claim, by JAMS. Such arbitration will take place in New York, NY. The arbitration award so given will be a final and binding determination of the dispute, will be fully enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction specified in Section 20.B, and will not include any damages expressly prohibited by Section 20.D. The arbitration award may include the prevailing party in any arbitration under this Section 16.C(2) being entitled to recover from the losing party some or all of the reasonable out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses (including those of attorneys, professionals and accountants and all those arising from appeals and investigations) incurred by the prevailing party in connection with such arbitration. Each party shall maintain the confidential nature of the arbitration proceeding and the arbitration award, including the arbitration hearing, in accordance with Section 11. |
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17. | Effects of Expiration. |
A. | Expiration of Licensees Rights. Upon the expiration of this Agreement, except as it relates to any limited rights which Licensee may have pursuant to the express terms of this Agreement with respect to a Sell-Off Period, all rights granted by Licensor to Licensee under this Agreement automatically and immediately shall terminate and revert to Licensor. Without limiting the foregoing, upon the expiration of this Agreement, Licensee immediately shall cause its manufacturers to cease and desist from any further manufacture of any Licensed Goods and Services (and/or of any labeling, packaging and/or other materials using any Licensed Property). Licensee acknowledges that Licensor will have no adequate remedy at law if Licensee continues to design, manufacture, distribute, sell, and/or promote Licensed Goods and Services following expiration of this Agreement outside the scope of any rights which Licensee may have pursuant to the express terms of this Agreement with respect to a Sell-Off Period. Accordingly, Licensee agrees that, in addition to any and all other remedies available to Licensor at law, Licensor shall have the right to seek to have any such activity by Licensee restrained by equitable relief, including, but not limited to, a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction, a permanent injunction, or such other alternative relief as may be appropriate, without the necessity of posting any bond. |
B. | Unpaid Amounts. At the expiration of this Agreement for any reason, Licensee immediately shall pay to Licensor any and all unpaid amounts then due and owing to Licensor (including without limitation Royalties and Guaranteed Minimum Royalties for any Contract Year (or portion thereof) prior to the date of the expiration of this Agreement). |
C. | Return of Materials. Within ten (10) days following the expiration of this Agreement, Licensee at its sole cost shall deliver to Licensor all advertising materials and, to the extent permitted by applicable law and any contract by which Licensee is bound, all Customer Information in Licensees possession, custody and/or control, to the extent incorporating any of the Marks. |
D. | Inventory. No later than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the Term, Licensee shall deliver to Licensor a schedule (signed and certified by Licensees Chief Financial Officer as accurate) itemizing all inventory of Licensed Goods and Services then in Licensees possession, custody and/or control, broken down by style number, color, size, quantity, and including Licensees Purchase Price for each such product together with any other descriptive information which Licensor may request. |
E. | Sell-Off Period. Upon the expiration of this Agreement, Licensee shall have the non-exclusive right, for a period of six (6) months following the expiration of this Agreement (a Sell-Off Period) to sell-off its inventory (solely to the extent Licensee owned such inventory as of the expiration date of this Agreement) with such sales to be made (i) solely in the Territory; (ii) solely to Approved Wholesalers, (iii) subject to payments of Royalties; and (iv) otherwise on and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Any sales made by Licensee during a Sell-Off Period shall not be credited towards any of Licensees obligations to pay Guaranteed Minimum Royalties. |
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18. | Sublicensing. Licensee shall have the right to sublicense its rights under this Agreement to any Affiliates controlled, directly or indirectly, by Licensee; provided, however, (a) Licensee shall ensure that any such controlled Affiliate does not engage in any act or omission that would constitute a breach of this Agreement if such act or omission had been by Licensee, and any such violation by Licensees controlled Affiliate shall constitute a breach of this Agreement by Licensee; and (b) if any of Licensees controlled Affiliates engaged in an act that would constitute a breach of this Agreement if made by Licensee then, without prejudice to any of Licensors rights and remedies against Licensee, Licensee shall have the right to seek injunctive relief directly against such controlled Affiliate. Licensee additionally shall have the right to sublicense its rights under this Agreement to any other third-party, solely during the Term; provided, however, that Licensee shall not have the right to grant a sublicense to permit a Person other than its Affiliates to design, manufacture, or sell Reserved Goods and Services other than (i) for or to Licensee or its Affiliates or (ii) to Approved Wholesalers in connection with Reserved Goods and Services obtained from Licensee or its Affiliates or in connection with a store-within-a-store branded with a Licensed Property. Licensee shall not enter into any sublicense not expressly permitted by this paragraph without Licensors express prior written approval, and any such sublicense without such express prior written approval shall be deemed void and of no force or effect. For the avoidance of doubt, any sublicense entered into shall expire and terminate concurrently with expiration of this Agreement, and sublicensee shall have no right to enforce the sublicense against Licensor. |
19. | Assignment; Lender Rights. |
A. | License as Personal. This Agreement is of a nature such that the rights granted to Licensee hereunder are personal to Licensee, including in that Licensee acknowledges and recognizes that: (a) Licensee has been granted the licenses herein because of its particular expertise, knowledge, judgment, skill and ability; and (b) Licensor is relying on Licensees unique knowledge, experience and capabilities to perform this Agreement in specific manner consistent with the high standards of integrity and quality associated with the Marks. Licensor and Licensee represent, acknowledge and agree that (i) they are entering into this Agreement based upon the unique and specific business and commercial reputation, experience, financial condition, and relationships that each of Licensor and Licensee have and are each relying upon the other in using the same in connection with their respective performance under this Agreement, and (ii) this Agreement is personal to each of them, and shall be treated as a personal service contract for all purposes, including in connection with an Insolvency Proceeding. |
B. | Single Integrated Agreement; Assignment. Each of Licensor and Licensee represent, acknowledge and agree that this Agreement and the licenses contained herein constitute one, single integrated contract, and that the licenses granted hereunder are non-severable from each other and the other terms and conditions hereof. Neither party shall assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations hereunder, directly or indirectly, whether pursuant to any division or change of ownership, control, or otherwise, including in connection with any Insolvency Proceeding, without having first received the other partys prior written approval which the other party may grant or withhold in its sole discretion; provided, that Licensor shall have the right to assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder, directly or indirectly, without Licensees approval, in connection with a Change of Control of Licensor. Licensee shall have the right to assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder, directly or indirectly, without Licensors approval, (i) pursuant to Section 19.D, (ii) to an Affiliate, or (iii) in connection with any Change of Control of Licensee (other than in connection with a reorganization or restructuring, in bankruptcy, of Licensee or any of its Affiliates) (provided, further, that, |
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unless a ROFO Termination Election (as defined in the Operating Agreement) has occurred, Licensee may not assign this Agreement to Authentic Brands, Bluestar, or Marquee Brands without the prior written consent of Licensor). Any attempted assignment by a party in violation of any of the foregoing shall be deemed void and of no force or effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns. |
C. | Bankruptcy. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Parties agree that, if Licensee is the subject of any Insolvency Proceeding and/or dissolution then, to the fullest extent enforceable by law, no debtor or debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, custodian, receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, sheriff or any other officer of the court or official charged with responsibility for taking custody of Licensees assets or business may assume and assign this Agreement. |
D. | Lender Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Licensor hereby approves Licensees right to sublicense and collaterally assign this Agreement and any of its rights and obligations hereunder to any lender or lenders (or an agent therefor) under any credit facility with commercial lenders, institutional investors or similar lenders as collateral for the indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of Licensee and/or any of its Affiliates thereunder, exercisable or usable by the lender or lenders (or an agent therefor) after an event of default under such credit facility or otherwise in connection with the enforcement and exercise of remedies with respect to the collateral under such credit facility, in each case, until the obligations under such credit facility (other than contingent indemnification obligations and unasserted expense reimbursement obligations that expressly survive the termination or repayment in full of such credit facility) have been in paid in full in cash. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the right of such lender or lenders (or an agent therefor) to enforce and exercise their rights and remedies under any sublicense or collateral assignment, as applicable, and to take actions and exercise rights of the Licensee hereunder are hereby is acknowledged by the Licensor and any such action taken in accordance therewith shall be valid and effective for all purposes under this Agreement, and in any such event, the Licensor will negotiate in good faith with any such lender or lenders (or agent therefor) with respect to its or their exercise thereof; provided, that, such lender or lenders (or agent therefor) agree to be bound by all the terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
20. | Dispute Resolution. |
A. | Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract, tort or statute) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement or as an inducement to enter into this Agreement), shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed entirely within that State, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under any applicable conflict of laws principles. |
B. | Forum. Except for the arbitration provided for above, all other Actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (or, if the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over any Action, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware) and |
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the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts in any such Action and irrevocably waive the defense of an inconvenient forum or lack of jurisdiction to the maintenance of any such Action. The consents to jurisdiction and venue set forth in this Section 20.B. shall not constitute general consents to service of process in the State of Delaware and shall have no effect for any purpose except as provided in this paragraph and shall not be deemed to confer rights on any Person other than the parties hereto. Each party hereto agrees that service of process upon such party in any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be effective if notice is given by overnight courier at the address set forth in Section 20.B. of this Agreement. The parties hereto agree that a final judgment in any such Action shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable law; provided, however, that nothing in the foregoing shall restrict any partys rights to seek any post-judgment relief regarding, or any appeal from, a final trial court judgment. The prevailing party in any legal proceeding under this Agreement will be entitled to recover from the losing party all reasonable out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses (including those of attorneys, professionals and accountants and all those arising from appeals and investigations) incurred by the prevailing party in connection with such legal proceeding. |
C. | Equitable Relief. Licensee acknowledges that any breach by Licensee may cause Licensor irreparable harm for which there is no adequate remedy at law, and in the event of such breach, Licensor shall be entitled to seek, in addition to other available remedies, injunctive or other equitable relief, including, without limitation, interim or emergency relief, including, without limitation, a temporary restraining order or injunction, before any court with applicable jurisdiction, to protect or enforce its rights. |
D. | LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO A BREACH OF SECTION 11, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER PARTY NOR ANY OF SUCH PARTYS OWNERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND/OR AGENTS SHALL BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, OR FOR LOSS OF GOOD WILL OR BUSINESS PROFITS, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OR ACTION, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT AND/OR OTHERWISE, IN RELATION TO THIS AGREEMENT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES ARE FORESEEABLE OR WHETHER SUCH PARTY IS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OR LIKELIHOOD OF SUCH DAMAGES. THE FOREGOING LIMITATION OF LIABILITY SHALL NOT APPLY TO LOSSES PAID OR PAYABLE TO A THIRD PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH A THIRD PARTY CLAIM WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF AN INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. |
E. | JURY TRIAL WAIVER. EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHTS THAT IT MAY HAVE NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR ANY STATE TO A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY AND ALL ISSUES ARISING EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BETWEEN THEM IN ANY WAY CONNECTED TO THIS AGREEMENT. IT IS INTENDED THAT THIS WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL SHALL APPLY TO ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEFENSES, RIGHTS AND/OR COUNTERCLAIMS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING. |
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21. | Miscellaneous. |
A. | Legal Notices. Any legal notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications arising under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given or made when (a) delivered personally to the recipient; (b) one business day after being sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (e.g., FedEx) (charges prepaid); or (c) transmitted, if sent by email transmission before 5:00 p.m. New York time on a business day, or otherwise on the next business day; provided that notice given by email shall not be effective unless either (i) a duplicate copy of such email is promptly given by one of the other methods described in this Section 21.A. or (ii) the receiving party delivers a written confirmation of receipt for such notice by email or any other method described in this Section 21.A. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 21.A): |
(1) | If to Licensor: |
EXP Topco LLC
c/o WHP Global
530 Fifth Avenue
Floor 12
New York, NY 10036
E-mail: [*****]
[*****]
Attention: [*****]
[*****]
with a copy to:
Goodwin Procter LLP
100 Northern Avenue
Boston, MA 02210
E-mail: jzachariah@goodwinlaw.com; wwilson@goodwinlaw.com
Attention: Joshua M. Zachariah;
William F. Wilson
(2) | If to Licensee: |
Express, Inc.
One Express Drive
Columbus, OH 43230
E-mail: [*****]
Attention: [*****]
with a copy to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Email: rachael.coffey@kirkland.com
Attention: Rachael Coffey, Partner
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B. | Relationship. The parties are and shall remain independent contractors, and neither party may (a) obligate or bind the other to any form of contractual and/or other obligation; (b) control the activities and operations of the other party; or (c) make any statements, representations or commitments of any kind on behalf of the other party. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to have the effect of placing the parties hereto in the relationship of partners or joint venturers, or create any agency, or any other relationship other than that of licensor and licensee. |
C. | No Franchise. Each party acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement is an intellectual property rights license agreement and does not constitute, and shall not be construed as, a franchise agreement. Each party further acknowledges and agrees that state and federal franchise laws do not and will not apply to this Agreement or to the relationship between the parties and their respective rights and obligations hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, the parties agree that, due to their respective business backgrounds and prior licensing experience, they do not need the protection of state or federal franchise laws. |
D. | Survival. Upon any expiration of this Agreement, the following Sections shall survive in full force and effect according to their terms: 1 (Definitions), 9 (Reports and Plans), 10 (Intellectual Property), 11 (Confidentiality) 12 (Indemnification), 14 (Audit Rights), 17 (Effects of Expiration), 19 (Assignment; Lender Rights), 20 (Dispute Resolution), and 21 (Miscellaneous). |
E. | Further Assurances. The parties agree to execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this Agreement. Further, Licensee shall execute and deliver to Licensor any and all documents reasonably requested by Licensor to confirm and perfect Licensors right, title and interest in and to the Marks and/or otherwise with respect to the licensing arrangement provided for herein. The parties agree to execute a short form license agreement in the form of Exhibit D upon Licensees request, and Licensor hereby authorizes Licensee to file such short form license agreement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. |
F. | No Waiver. If any acts or omissions by either party not in conformity with any covenant, duty, agreement, condition or other requirement hereof are not objected to by the other party, the failure to object shall not be a waiver of the covenant, duty, agreement, condition or other requirement and timely and proper performance may be insisted upon at any time. The waiver by any party to this Agreement of any breach or violation of any covenant, duty, agreement, condition or other requirement of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be constructed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach or violation thereof. |
G. | Severability. Any holding by a court of competent jurisdiction of the invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability of any term of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or operation of any other term, and the invalid, illegal, or unenforceable term shall be deemed severed from this Agreement and the Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term had never been contained herein. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law. |
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H. | Construction. If it is necessary to construe the terms and conditions of this Agreement, it will be done without giving any consideration or effect as to which party drafted this Agreement. The parties acknowledge that all terms of this Agreement were negotiated at arms length, with independent counsel, and that this Agreement was prepared and executed without duress, undue influence or coercion. Unless otherwise specified or where the context otherwise requires: (a) the terms include, includes or including means including without limitation; (b) words importing any gender shall include other genders; (c) words importing the singular only shall include the plural and vice versa; (d) the words hereof, herein and herewith and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (e) references to Articles, Exhibits, Sections or Schedules shall be to articles, exhibits, sections or schedules of or to this Agreement; (f) references to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of such Person; (g) the use of the words or, either and any shall not be exclusive; (h) wherever a conflict exists between this Agreement and any other agreement, this Agreement shall control but solely to the extent of such conflict; (i) references to $ or dollars means the lawful currency of the United States of America; (j) the word extent in the phrase to the extent shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply if; (k) references to written or in writing include in electronic form; (l) provisions shall apply, when appropriate, to successive events and transactions, any reference to days means calendar days unless business days are expressly specified; (m) when calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded and if the day at the end of the period is not a business day, then the period shall end on the close of the next immediately following business day; (n) references to any agreement, contract or schedule or law, unless otherwise stated, are to such agreement, contract or schedule or law as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, (o) references to approval, approve, or approved shall be deemed to be followed by the words in writing, and (p) references to manufacture shall be deemed to include to have manufactured. |
I. | Captions and Exhibits. Captions used herein are for convenience only and will not be construed as a part of this Agreement or serve as a limitation or expansion on the scope of any term or provision of this Agreement. The Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement (including without limitation any terms and conditions contained therein) are incorporated herein by reference and shall form part of this Agreement. |
J. | Signature Exchange. This Agreement may be executed in counterpart copy format, with each copy an original hereof, and all copies being one and the same agreement. Signatures affixed hereto by photocopy, facsimile transmission, e-mail, PDF, TIFF, JPEG, DocuSign or other like digital format shall have the full force and effect of original signatures. |
K. | Complete Agreement / No Oral Modification. This Agreement represents the complete Agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter, and this Agreement replaces and supersedes any prior written and oral agreements, understanding or statements between the parties, whether express or implied, with respect to the subject matter contained in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the express terms of this Agreement shall control and supersede any course of dealing or performance, and/or usage of trade, that is inconsistent with any of the terms hereof. Any amendments to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by the parties. |
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L. | Bankruptcy Protection. If this Agreement is rejected by Licensor as a debtor under Section 365 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or similar provision in the bankruptcy laws of another jurisdiction (the Code), then, notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement to the contrary, all licenses and rights to licenses granted under or pursuant to this Agreement by Licensor in bankruptcy to Licensee are, and shall otherwise be deemed to be, for purposes of Section 365(n) of the Code (or similar or related provision in the bankruptcy laws of another applicable jurisdiction), licenses of rights to intellectual property as defined under Section 101(35A) of the Code (or similar or related provision in the bankruptcy laws of another applicable jurisdiction). Licensor agrees that following commencement of a bankruptcy proceeding by or against Licensor under the Code (i) Licensee shall retain and may fully exercise all of its rights and elections as and to the extent set forth under the Code, and (ii) for purposes of Sections 365(n) of the Code, upon rejection by the Licensor of this Agreement and the election by Licensee to retain its rights under Section 365(n)(1)(B) of the Code, and following Licensees written request therefor, and subject to Licensees performance with its obligations and Section 365(n), Licensee shall be entitled to a complete duplicate of, or complete access to (as appropriate), any such intellectual property and all embodiments of such intellectual property held by Licensor, which, if not already in Licensees possession, shall be promptly delivered to Licensee. Licensor further agrees that, in accordance with Section 365(n)(4) of the Code, unless and until the Licensor rejects this Agreement, upon written request of Licensee, Licensee shall be entitled to a complete duplicate of, or complete access to (as appropriate), any such intellectual property and all embodiments of such intellectual property held by Licensor. To the extent any rights or licenses granted under this Agreement are not governed by Section 365(n) of the Code, the parties agree that this Agreement is and shall continue to be an executory contract for purposes of Section 365(g) of the Code and similar or related laws in other jurisdictions. Each of Licensor and Licensee, as counterparties to an executory contract, may fully exercise all of their respective rights under the Code or under any similar or related bankruptcy laws of another applicable jurisdiction, including Licensees right to continue to exercise the trademark rights licensed hereunder (including the right to enforce exclusivity), notwithstanding any rejection or assignment of this Agreement by Licensor. The foregoing provisions of this Section 21.L are without prejudice to any rights any party may have arising under the Code. |
M. | Force Majeure. Neither party shall be liable or responsible to the other party, or be deemed to have defaulted under or breached this Agreement, for any failure or delay in fulfilling or performing any term of this Agreement (except for either partys payment or reimbursement obligations under the Agreement), when and to the extent such failure or delay is caused by or results from acts beyond the impacted partys reasonable control. |
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Exhibit A
Definitions
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
1. | Action means claim, action, suit, proceeding or governmental investigation. |
2. | Advance means Sixty Million US Dollars ($60,000,000) payable by Licensee to Licensor as and when set forth in Section 3.B(1). |
3. | Affiliate means any Person which, now in the future, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with a party. Control means possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of any such Person, through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. The parties agree that for purposes of this Agreement, neither party is an Affiliate of the other party. |
4. | Approved Account List means the wholesale accounts listed on Exhibit C. |
5. | Approved Wholesalers means any wholesale distributor that is an Affiliate of Licensee, and any other wholesale distributor that satisfies the Quality Standards or has a reputation and standing as a high-quality wholesale distributor selling Goods and Services consistent with the high quality of the Licensed Goods and Services and the reputation, image and prestige of the Marks. Approved Wholesalers expressly excludes mass-market retailers (e.g. Walmart, Target), drug stores, flea markets and dollar stores. |
6. | Bankruptcy Code means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled Bankruptcy, as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute. |
7. | Combination Use Mark means any trademark that is, in whole or in part, comprised of one or more trademarks included in the Marks used in combination with any Licensee Mark. |
8. | Contract Year means each twelve month period beginning on the Sunday after the Saturday closest to January 31 in the applicable calendar year of the Term, except Contract Year 1, and the last Contract Year, which means the period of time from the Sunday after the Saturday closest to January 31 of the calendar year in which this Agreement expires, and the effective date of such expiration. |
9. | Contract Year 1 means the period commencing upon the Effective Date and ending on the Saturday closest to January 31, 2024. |
10. | Customer Information means customer information collected by Licensee in the course of making Retail Sales under this Agreement. |
11. | Debtor Relief Law means the Bankruptcy Code and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the U.S., any state or territory thereof, the District of Columbia or any other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally. |
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12. | Fiscal Quarter means, as applicable, (i) the Sunday after the Saturday closest to January 31 through the end of February, March and April (ii) May, June, and July (iii) August, September, and October or (iv) November, December and January 1 through the Saturday closest to January 31. |
13. | FOB Cost means the total direct costs without markup or load that Licensee pays to its factory and/or other applicable seller in connection with the manufacture and purchase of Licensed Goods and Services, including, without limitation, as it relates to transferring title of such Licensed Goods and Services to or for the benefit of Licensee. |
14. | Goods and Services means any and all goods and/or services. |
15. | Gross Sales means (1) all amounts received and receivable, including amounts of any gift card redeemed as payment, by Licensee or an Affiliate thereof from their Retail Sales; and/or (2) all amounts received and receivable by Licensee or an Affiliate thereof from their Wholesale Sales. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) a sale of Goods and Services from Retail Sales occurs on the earliest of, and Royalties shall accrue on, the date payment is received or becomes receivable for such Goods and Services, except a sale made with a gift card shall be deemed made at the time of gift card redemption rather than gift card purchase; (ii) a sale of Goods and Services from Wholesale Sales occurs on the earliest of, and Royalties shall accrue on, the date payment is received for such Goods and Services; and (iii) any sums received or receivable from a retail customer for a separately delineated charitable donation, and all other bona fide charitable donations actually donated to a third party shall be excluded from the definition of Gross Sales. |
16. | Guaranteed Minimum Royalties means the following amounts for Contract Year 1 and each of the following Contract Years; provided that the Guaranteed Minimum Royalties for Contract Year 1 (where less than 365 days) and the last Contract Year of the Term is the amount for such Contract Year set forth in the Amount of Guaranteed Minimum Royalties column multiplied by the number of days in such Contract Year divided by 365: |
Contract Year |
Amount of Guaranteed Minimum Royalties | |||
Contract Year 1 |
$ | 60,000,000 USD | ||
Contract Year 2 |
$ | 61,000,000 USD | ||
Contract Year 3 |
$ | 62,000,000 USD | ||
Contract Year 4 |
$ | 63,000,000 USD | ||
Contract Year 5 |
$ | 64,000,000 USD | ||
Contract Year 6 and each |
$ | 65,000,000 USD |
17. | Initial Term means Contract Year 1 and the nine (9) years the following the conclusion of Contract Year 1 for a total of ten (10) years. |
18. | Insolvency Proceeding means any proceeding commenced by or against any Person under any provision of any Debtor Relief Law. |
19. | Licensed Goods and Services means any merchandise Goods and Services bearing the Marks and sold by Licensee and/or any of its Affiliates. |
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20. | Licensed Property means all (i) Acquired IP (as defined in the IP Transfer Agreement) and (ii) Trademarks and any other intellectual property owned or controlled at any time during the Term by Licensor or any Affiliate thereof. |
21. | Change of Control means, with respect to a party, any transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which any Person, or group of related Persons in the aggregate, acquires or becomes the beneficial owner of, directly or indirectly, (a) more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding common stock of such party, whether by merger, liquidation, consolidation, reorganization, combination, sale, tender or exchange offer or otherwise or (b) all or substantially all of such partys assets, determined on a consolidated basis.3 |
22. | Licensee Marks means (i) all Trademarks owned by Licensee and/or any of its Affiliates as of the Effective Date (after giving effect to the Contribution Agreement), (ii) all Trademarks acquired by Licensee and/or any of its Affiliates after the Effective Date (excluding, for clarity, any New Derivative Marks), and (iii) all Trademarks licensed to Licensee and/or any of its Affiliates by a third party. |
23. | Marks means Trademarks included in the Licensed Property. The term Marks does not include any Licensee Marks. |
24. | Net Sales means Gross Sales, reduced only by, without duplication, to the extent included in the calculation of Gross Sales, (i) returns of Goods and Services; (ii) sales, value-add, use, excise, duties, tariffs, or similar taxes collected from customers as a separately delineated part of the sale price for Goods and Services; (iii) shipping and handling (and related insurance) revenue, in each case collected from customers as a separately delineated part of the sale price for Goods and Services; (iv) non-retail closeout sales, not to exceed two percent (2%) of total units of Good and Services sold by Licensee, its Affiliates, or sublicensees in any Contract Year; (v) fifty percent (50%) of Threshold Sales derived from the sale of Co-Branded Licensed Products, but only up to the Permitted Co-Branded Deduction; (vi) sales of Goods and Services occurring in the Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores that are not Licensed Goods and Services, but only up to the Permitted No-Branded Brick-and-Mortar Allowance; (vii) sales of Goods and Services occurring in Branded E-Com Sites that are not Licensed Goods and Services, but only up to the Permitted No-Branded E-Com Allowance; (viii) chargebacks, credits, allowances, and bad debts, including those granted on account of rejection, returns, billing errors, or retroactive price reductions, not to exceed one and one-half percent (1.5%) of Threshold Sales for such Contract Year; and/or (ix) Permitted Other Deductions; provided, however, any deductions in the calculation of Net Sales based upon Permitted Other Deductions for any Contract Year shall be capped at ten percent (10%) of Threshold Sales attributable to Wholesale Sales during such Contract Year. |
25. | Operating Agreement means that certain First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of EXP TOPCO, LLC, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the persons party thereto. |
26. | Permitted Co-Branded Deductions means sales of Co-Branded Licensed Products up to five percent 5% of Threshold Sales in any Contract Year. |
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27. | Permitted No-Branded E-Com Allowance means sales of Goods and Services that are not Licensed Goods and Services in Branded E-Com Sites, up to ten percent 10% of Threshold Sales in any Contract Year. |
28. | Permitted No-Branded Brick-and-Mortar Allowance means sales of Goods and Services that are not Licensed Goods and Services in Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores, up to ten percent 10% of Threshold Sales in any Contract Year. |
29. | Permitted Other Deductions means discounts, markdown allowances, and/or margin support actually extended by Licensee or any of its Affiliates on Wholesale Sales to the extent relating to sales of Licensed Goods and Services to unaffiliated third parties. |
30. | Person means an individual, a partnership (including a limited partnership), a corporation, a limited liability company, an exempted company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, association or other entity. |
31. | Quality Standards means standards or practices that are consistent in all material respects with (i) Licensees past standards or practices, with respect to Licensed Property, or (ii) the then-current customary standards or practices of apparel designers, manufacturers, distributors, or retailers that are comparable to or competitive with Licensee or otherwise similarly situated (including as to price point, customer demographic, revenue and trade channels) to Licensee in the specialty retail apparel industry. |
32. | Renewal Term means ten (10) years. |
33. | Reserved Goods and Services means the goods and services within the categories identified on Exhibit B. |
34. | Retail Sales means retail sales of (i) Licensed Goods and Services, or (ii) consumer merchandise Goods and Services through Branded Brick-and-Mortar Stores, Branded E-Com Sites, or other direct-to-consumer trade channel branded under any Mark in a given Contract Year. |
35. | Royalties means amounts totaling (i) three and one quarter percent (3.25%) of Net Sales arising from Retail Sales for each of Contract Years 1-5; (ii) three and one half percent (3.5%) of Net Sales arising from Retail Sales for each Contract Year after Contract Year 5; and (iii) eight percent (8%) of Net Sales arising from Wholesale Sales. |
36. | Specified Trade Channels means (i) Retail Sales in the Territory, (ii) Wholesale Sales to Approved Wholesalers in the Territory, and (iii) through any other trade channel in the Territory. |
37. | Territory means (i) the United States, including its territories and possessions and (ii) U.S. military bases anywhere in the world. |
38. | Trademark means registered and unregistered trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress, corporate names, design marks, slogans, Internet domain names, rights to social media accounts, and other indicia of source, origin or quality, including all applications and registrations and the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by the foregoing. |
39. | Threshold Sales means Gross Sales, reduced only by, without duplication, to the extent included in the calculation of Gross Sales, (i) returns of Goods and Services; (ii) sales, value-add, use, excise, duties, tariffs, or similar taxes collected from customers as a separately delineated part of the sale |
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price for Goods and Services; and (iii) shipping and handling (and related insurance) revenue, in each case collected from customers as a separately delineated part of the sale price for Goods and Services. |
40. | Wholesale Sales means wholesale sales of Licensed Goods and Services in a given Contract Year to any Approved Wholesaler or other wholesale distributor or other account. |
Exhibit B
Reserved Goods and Services
[Intentionally Omitted]
B-5
Exhibit C
Approved Account List
[Intentionally Omitted]
C-1
Exhibit D
Short Form License Agreement
[Intentionally Omitted]